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Handbook 




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AGyiOEfDROFFltEl\S 
SOCIF"^'^ 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 

(Jhap. Copyright No. 

Shelf .'W^.'? 5" 



UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



THE 



OFFICERS' HANDBOOK 



A GUIDE FOR OFFICERS IN YOUNG PEOPLE'S 
SOCIETIES, WITH CHAPTERS ON PARLIA- 
MENTARY LAW AND OTHER USEFUL 
THEMES 



By AMOS R. WELLS 




BOSTON AND CHICAGO 
UNITED SOCIETY OF CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR 

I - 



5642S 



Uibrttry of Con(y>««« 

OCT 4 1900 

Oe^Ai.\<^ 0-17 - 
OR0t»« DIVISION. 

OCT 29 I9UU 






Copyrighted, iqoo, 



THE UNITED SOCIETY OF CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR. 



CONTENTS. 



Chapter. page 

I. The King's Business 5 

II. Christian Endeavor Fundamentals. 9 

III. The Constitution and By-Laws 16 

IV. The President's Work 43 

V. The President in the Prayer Meet- 
ing 47 

VI. The President and the Committees. 51 

VII. The President and the Unions 55 

VIII. The Work of the Vice-President. . . 59 

IX. The Recording Secretary's Work. .. 62 

X. The Corresponding Secretary's 

W^ORK 69 

XI. The Treasurer's Work 75 

XII. The Organist's Work 84 

XIII. The Executive Committee 90 

XIV. The Business Meeting 97 

XV. A Summary of Parliamentary Law 

FOR Endeavorers 103 

XVI. Reception AND Installation Services. 113 

XVII. The Use of Literature 126 

XVIII. The Society and the Church 131 

XIX. A Glance at Christian Endeavor His- 
tory 137 



THE OFFICERS' HANDBOOK. 



CHAPTER I. 

THE KING'S BUSINESS. 

Christian Endeavor is a spiritual movement and 
its heart is the prayer meeting, and yet it is as im- 
possible to have a good society without a good 
business meeting, as to have a good business meeting 
without a good society. The spiritual side of the 
work grows as the committee w^ork grows, and the 
society's activity increases as the spiritual fervor 
increases, each depending on the other. Uplifting 
prayer meetings are the result of good work on the 
part of the prayer-meeting committee, and that 
committee in turn is stimulated to better ^vork by 
uplifting prayer meetings. Souls are won to Christ 
by the zealous labors of the lookout committee, and 
evangelistic zeal, once implanted in a society, w^ill 
spur the lookout committee to unselfish endeavors. 
If the consecration meetings are genuine, tlie busi- 
ness meetings will be enthusiastic and practical. 

But if neither of these things is true ? At which 

5 



6 THE officers' HA:^rDBOOK. 

end shall we begin to work ? Shall we first make 
the body, and then pour into it the breath of life ? 
Or shall we seek first the motive and later supply 
the machinery ? 

There is no need of deciding, for we are to work 
toward both ends at th^ same time. This book 
illustrates, therefore, only one side of a successful 
society, and what some might call the lower side, if 
there were any higher or lower in religious work. 
For the other side, I must refer the Endeavorer to 
the volume in this series that deals with "Prayer- 
Meeting Methods," and to the numbers of the '• Ways 
of Working Series" entitled "On the Lookout" 
and "Our Crowning Meeting." Throughout this 
book I must take it for granted that the reader un- 
derstands that the society mechanism is only a 
means toward an end, and that all Endeavorers 
know what is the great object for which alone 
Christian Endeavor business is conducted, and what 
is the pervading spirit in which alone it will suc- 
ceed. 

Tlierefore I do not at all sympathize with those 
that would minimize the business in our society 
work. Do not be petty and fussy. Do not spend 
time in polishing the locomotive when you should 
be on the road. Do not exalt the way above the 
goal, the method above the object. But, on the other 
hand, magnify your office, enlarge it with the thor- 
oughness of a Paul. Complete the business to the 
finger nails, as carefully as Angelo would finish a 
statue. Be ashamed of a short business meeting. 
If you have little business, it means little committee 



THE OFFICERS HAXDBOOK. 7 

vvofk. And be ashamed of a dull business meeting. 
It means that your society is half asleep. 

And our Christian Endeavor business should be 
done in the very best way. We are •' about our 
Father's business.'' How punctilious are all that do 
business for a king ! Letters presented to him must 
be handsomely engrossed. The most minute act 
regarding his w^ardrobe, his food, liis bed, must be 
performed with perfect care and according to the 
strictest rule. How attentive to details are lovers 
that execute commissions for their sweethearts ! 
No least slip is permitted in accuracy, in fiueness, 
in promptness, in grace. If we truly love God, and 
serve Him as our King, we shall count nothing too 
good for His service. His wash will be enough for 
us, as David's w^ish for the water by Bethleliem's 
gate was enough for his strong men. Whatever is 
worth doing is w^orth doing w^ell, and wliatever 
God wants done is w^orth doing. If in his public 
prayers, and even when he prays in secret, a Chris- 
tian W'ill take pains to use only the choicest w^ords, 
wiiy should he not also be careful to use only the 
most fitting and up-to-date methods in all his relig- 
ious labors ? Let us be workmen that need not to 
be ashamed. Let us permit no slovenly work about 
the King's business — not even in the King's kitchen. 

Verily, we want God to toil for us ; and oh, how^ 
He labors ! Look at the business meeting of the 
spring. What motions are passed by the breezes ! 
How eagerly the fields resolve themselves into com- 
mittees of the whole ! What a music committee 
are the birds, w^hat a flower committee is active 



8 THE officers' HANDBOOK. 

through the woods ! What a vigilant lookout com- 
mittee has its headquarters among the clouds ! 
What a summer business meeting ! And what a 
fall business meeting ! Yes, and what a winter 
business meeting, too, though all its work is done 
so quietly. And in the presence of this abounding 
energy of God, that spends itself upon us so lavishly 
and continually, shall we find it onerous to attend 
one committee meeting a fortnight ? 

Ah, let us be '• diligent in business " ! That shall 
be the motto of this book. That can be our spirit, 
only as we enjoy our Christian activities. ' ' Diligent " 
comes from the Latin words meaning to choose 
out, to love ; and however we may lash ourselves 
with the whip of conscience and tlie thong of duty, 
we are not truly diligent, but only pretending to 
be, until we have come — possibly by dint at first of 
mere duty-doing — to love our work. 

The King's business requireth haste. -Whj^? Be- 
cause the night conieth, w^ien no man can work. 
The knowledge of the extreme brevity even of .the 
longest life, the thought of the vast reaches of eter- 
nit3^ the consciousness that upon our life here de- 
pend the eternal issues for us aaid for others — no 
one can entertain these great ideas without being 
spurred thereby to an activity so fierce that it would 
speedily burn his life out were it not for the peace 
and quietness our Master gives His followers. That 
peace enters our souls and takes away all f retfulness 
and fever from our toil, while, none the less, we 
seek the Kingdom first of all, and it is our meat 
and our drink to do the will of the Father. 



THE OFFICERS' HA>^L>BOOK. 



CHAPTER II. 

CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR FUNDAMENTALS. 

The officers of our Christian Endeavor societies 
are the local leaders of the Christian Endeavor move- 
ment. The State and national leaders cannot go far 
with their voices, and only a little farther with their 
pens ; but the local leaders, in the aggregate, go 
everywhere. It is of supreme importance, therefore, 
if the movement is to flourish, that all our Christian 
Endeavor officers shall be able to defend it against 
criticism, and to show why tliey believe in it, what 
good it is doing, and what are its purposes and prin- 
cipal methods. A chapter on Christian Endeavor 
fundamentals, then, stands appropriately at the 
opening of this officers' Imndbook. 

What are the Christian Endeavor essentials? 
What constitutes an Endeavor society ? How is it 
differentiated from the old type of young people's 
meetings that made so manifest a failure ? 

From the beginning, in 1881, six features have 
characterized the Society. In spite of hundreds of 
improved methods that since liave been added, in 
spite of the adoption of many new interests and the 
completing of many noble achievements, these six 
characteristics are still the summary of tlie Society. 
They have proved their value by the test of time and 



10 THE OFFICERS^ HAXDBOOK. 

experience. Societies that lacked them have quietly 
passed away ; societies that possessed them have 
grown and are yet growing. Formally emphasized 
in many written and spoken addresses, they have 
come to be recognized everywhere as Christian En- 
deavor principles, and no Christian Endeavor officer 
should be ignorant either of what they are, or of their 
profound and fundamental meaning. 

First of these principles stands the pledge. Pri- 
marily not the particular form of words set forth by 
the United Society ; no stress has ever been laid 
upon that ; the United Society has itself revised 
them, and different countries have varied from them. 
The pledge idea, however, is essential to a society of 
Christian Endeavor — the willingness, upon recogniz- 
ing that Christ wants us to do certain things, to 
promise to do them, and to enter into open covenant 
for that purpose. This idea all our Christian En- 
deavor officers should be prepared to defend and ad- 
vocate. If any one objects that this takes away 
from the freedom of a Christian, they should be 
quick to reply that Christian freedom consists in do- 
ing the will of Christ, and that the only question to 
be settled is whether the pledge unfolds a part of 
Christ's will or not. If any one objects that it is im- 
possible to keep the pledge, they should be prompt 
to direct attention to the provision for excuses ; 
nothing is promised without the proviso, ''unless 
prevented by some reason which I can conscien- 
tiously give to my Saviour." The pledge simply 
agrees to testify for Christ, attend to the society's 
committee work, pray and read the Bible daily, and 



THE officers' HAis'DBOOK. 11 

support the church and its services — unless we have 
some excuse we think Christ would accept. When 
our officers ask the critics, " Does not Clirist want 
us to do these things? " they must answer, " Yes, as 
a general thing. " ' ' Then why not promise Him that 
we will do them, when He wants us to do them?" 
The pledge makes firm, conscientious Christians. 
It educates young people in promise-keeping — a 
training much needed in our modern times. It has 
been the backbone of the Christian Endeavor move- 
ment, and any society that grows lax in regard to it, 
will grow lax in everything else. 

Our second fundamental is the monthly roll-call 
meeting, first named the experience meeting, now 
usually named the consecration meeting. Why is 
it an essential? Because it serves as a test of fidelity 
to the pledge, a constant reminder of it, a spur to ful- 
filling it. To send a message, if one must be absent, 
and to testify in answer to one's name, if present — 
tliis, once a month, is obviously no unreasonable 
burden, and if one is unwilling to do this much, not 
even he himself would think that he ought to be kept 
in the society. Through the consecration meeting, 
therefore, the profitless members are weeded out, and 
the society is kept to its standard of efficiency. Our 
Christian Endeavor officers, having this understand- 
ing of the purpose of the meeting, will be ready to 
answer the criticism often leveled against the so- 
ciety because of a misunderstanding of our use of 
the term, '' consecration," and because of the tes- 
timony sometimes heard at this meeting, " I want to 
re-consecrate myself." Christian Endeavorers un- 



12 THE OFFICERS' HANDBOOK. 

derstand that consecration to God, made once, is 
made forever ; that it is not an act to be re- 
peated month after month ; and by our ' ' consecra- 
tion meeting " we mean only a meeting to bring out 
new elements in tlie consecration we have already 
made, to remind ourselves of it, to report our ex- 
periences concerning it, to emphasize the pledge of 
consecration we have taken upon ourselves. A 
meeting for this purpose once a month is none too 
often, and has infused into our society an element 
of strength to be obtained in no other way. 

In the third place. Christian Endeavor believes 
in systematic, definite, regular committee work. 
Why ? Because the main purpose of the society is 
to train young Christians for the church, and there 
is no way to learn liow to do things without doing 
them. The advantages of our^' Christian Endeavor 
committee work, so varied, so extensive, so practical, 
so helpful, are sufficiently manifest, and our officers 
will not need to dilate upon them. They need only 
to remember tliat all of it is an outgrowth of Chris- 
tian Endeavor, developed as the Society developed, 
and unknown before to the young people of the 
world. 

Private devotion is the fourth plank of our society 
platfoiin — daily prayer and daily Bible-reading. 
Like all the rest of the pledge, this part is flexible. 
It is left for the individual conscience, kept in touch 
with its Lord, to dictate how long and when one is 
to pray, and how much of the Bible shall be read 
daily, and in what way it shall be studied. Here, 
too, as throughout the pledge, the provision regard- 



THE officers' HANDBOOK. 13 

ing reasonable excuses is in force. Nevertheless, 
Christian Endeavor believes that it is impossible to 
maintain in power the outer exercises of religion 
unless we maintain with fervor this private com- 
munion with God, and by courses of Bible-study, 
and by the Quiet Hour pledge of at least fifteen 
minutes in the early morning for meditation and 
prayer, and in many other w^ays, the Society is 
constantly reminding its members that their only 
strength for any work comes from on high, and 
must be drawn from the reservoirs of prayer. 

Denominational loyalty is tlie fifth Christian En- 
deavor principle — a principle to which all experience 
shows that the young people are true. The pledge 
indicates general church-support, and, in particular, 
attendance on the midweek prayer meeting and tlie 
Sunday evening service as ways in wliich this 
denominational loyalty may be exhibited. It has 
been shown frequently that the Endeavorers are 
faithful to their promises in these points. In larger 
numbers, proportionately, than the older church 
members, they are to be found at the Sunday 
evening service and the midweek prayer meeting. 
They are loyal to their denominational missions and 
church periodicals. Where their denomination has 
formed a separatist young people's society, they 
have even carried this principle so far as to commit 
suicide as an Endeavor society, and drop sadly out 
of the Christian Endeavor fellowship. The " forward 
movements" in Christian Endeavor, like the Tenth 
Legion and the Macedonian Plialanx, have all been 
for the sole benefit of the denominations. Many 



14 THE officers' HAXDBOOK. 

thousands of pastors are constantly testifying to the 
Endeavorers' loyalty. 

Sixth and last in the list of Christian Endeavor 
principles is interdenominational fellowship. Chris- 
tian Endeavor has developed a very complete and 
beautiful system of unions — city, county, State, 
national, and world-vride. In most communities 
these unions are the only rallying centers for the 
Christians of all faiths. Everywhere they are power- 
ful agencies for co-operative action, and delightful 
promoters of a mutual understanding and brotherly 
helpfulness. Endeavorers know that from this 
source they gain vast enthusiasm, that their union 
work serves to popularize good methods, and that, 
best of all, in this coming together they are hasten- 
ing the fulfilment of Christ's command and prayer, 
" that they all may be one." Our officers should 
understand the dangers that attend this union work, 
watching jealously that nothing is admitted preju- 
dicial to denominational loyalty. They will see 
that their union is furnished with a Pastors' Advisory 
Committee, and in all their relations with other 
societies they will be guided by their pastors' wise 
control. Yet they will not forget how great and 
blessed is Christian Endeavor's responsibility for the 
perpetuation and enlarging of this fellowship. 
They will see the coming glories of the federation of 
the churches. They will believe in church union — 
just as close a union as is possible without violating 
consciences. And for this ideal they will be glad to 
work. 

These, then, are the six objects of Christian 



THE OFFICEKS^ HANDBOOK. 15 

Endeavor. From these essentials all other purposes 
of the Society spring, and to them they are subordi- 
nate. Compare the church, as Christ compared it, 
to a vineyard. Then the pledge is the stake to which 
the tender, pliant vine is tied. The consecration 
meeting is the rain poured upon it from above. Pri- 
vate devotions are the foodful soil, strong with its 
beautiful hidden strength. The committee work is 
the tilling of the plant. Denominational loyalty is 
the trellis along which the vines run from stake to 
stake. Interdenominational fellowship is the entire 
vineyard, the wind and the rain and the snow that 
fall upon the whole, the wise plans for the vineyard, 
for plowing and fertilizing, for keeping off insects, 
for pruning, for gathering the fruit.. How foolish 
to shut each vine up in a separate coop ! 

The church has scarcely begun to realize what 
blessings will come to her from this access of ardent, 
well-trained young workers. The pledge has given 
them spiritual stamina, the consecration meeting 
has given them the virtue of continuance. Private 
devotions have given them depth. Committee work 
has made them practical. Labor for their denomi- 
tions has made them intense. Fellowship with other 
denominations has made them broad. As our Chris- 
tian Endeavor officers come to understand better 
and better the purposes of our noble organization, 
the results it has already achieved and the still 
grander results it is sure to achieve in the opening- 
future, they will believe in the Society with all 
their hearts, and they will work for it with all their 
might. 



16 THE OFPICEES' HA]S^DBOOK, 



CHAPTER III. 

THE CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS. 

What is known as the " Model Constitution" for 
Christian Endeavor societies — that furnished by the 
United Society of Christian Endeavor and used in 
organizing new societies, though substantially the 
same as that formed for Dr. Clark's pioneer society 
in Williston Church, Portland, Maine, has received 
several revisions, and is now sent out in the follow- 
ing form. Alwaj^s when it is sent out, however, 
there goes with it the statement that it is put forth 
only as a recommendation, and that, though it is 
hoped that its main principles may everywhere be 
adopted, the societies are perfectly free to make 
whatever changes are needed to adapt it to local 
needs. Tlie constitution itself deals with general 
principles, and it is best for the society to take it 
without modification, while the by-laws represent 
the more variable factors, and it is they that may 
more wisely be changed. It is not to be forgotten, 
however, what constitutes a Christian Endeavor so- 
ciety, and no modification should be made that will 
annul any of the six principles stated in the preced- 
ing chapter — principles that have confirmed them- 
selves now by the experience of so many years and 
of so many thousand societies all over the world. 

In this chapter I shall present the Model Constitu- 



THE OFFICEKS' HANDBOOK. " 17 

tion, in company with such explanatory notes as my 
experience in answering innumerable questions, 
both at conventions and in the colranns of Tlie 
Christian Endeavor World, has shown to be helpful 
and needed. 

- THE MODEL CO^^STITUTION. 

Article I. — Name, 

This society shall be called the 

Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor. 

[Some societies have a double name. The society 
to which Dr. Clark now belongs, for instance, is 
called ' ' The Golden Rule Society of Christian En- 
deavor," or, "The Congregational Society of Chris- 
tian Endeavor, of Auburndale, Mass."] 

Article 11.— Object, 

Its object shall be to promote an earnest Christian 
life among its members, to increase their mutual 
acquaintance, and to make them more useful in the 
service of God. 

[Three objects, it will be observed. Have you 
paid much attention to this section ? Why not print 
it in large letters and hang it before the society, 
with the purpose henceforth of developing the mem- 
bers along all three lines ?] 

Article III. — Membership, 

1. The members shall consist of three classes : 
Active, Associate, and Affiliated or Honorary. 

2. Active Members. The active members of this 
2 



18 THE OFFICERS^ HANDBOOK. 

society shall consist of all young persons who be- 
lieve themselves to be Christians, and who sincerely 
desire to accomplish the objects above specified"; 
Voting power shall be vested only in the active 
members. 

[Of course the word, "young," may have some 
exceptions, and may include those that are young 
in the Christian life and need the training of the 
society. It is here used, however, to shut out ma- 
ture and experienced Christians who should be 
working in the other portions of the church, and 
for whom, if they wish to show an interest in the 
young people's society, a place is made as honorary 
members. 

It is often asked whether the active membership 
of the society should be confined to church-mem- 
bers. I myself came to be a cliurch-member through 
service as an active Endeavorer, and I know of many 
more that were thus brought into the church, so 
that my personal belief on this point may easily be 
guessed. On the other hand, there are many wise 
and experienced pastors who think that since all 
*' who believe themselves to be Christians" should 
join the church, it would be a great mistake to 
allow them to become active Endeavorers without 
first taking that step. On this point, therefore, 
since the opinions of pastors and the iDractice of the 
societies is so divided, no recommendation is made 
in the Model Constitution, but the pastor and 
church are left to adopt the course that seems best.] 

3. Associate Members. All young i:>ersons of 
worthy character, who are not at present willing to 



THE OFFICERS HAXDBOOK. 19 

be considered decided Christians, may become asso- 
ciate members of this society. They shall have the 
special prayers and sympathy of the active mem- 
bers, but shall be excused from taking part in the 
prayer meeting. It is expected that all associate 
members will habitually attend the prayer-meetings, 
and that they will in time become active members, 
and the society will work to this end. 

[It will be noticed that the associate members are 
by this definition those that are not willing to be 
considered Christians. No church-member, there- 
fore, should under any circumstances be permitted 
to join as an associate member. The associate mem- 
bers should not lead the meetings, nor serve as 
chairman of the committees, nor, indeed, should 
they be placed upon any of the committees that 
have charge of the distinctively spiritual interests of 
the society, such as the prayer-meeting and lookout 
committees. If their names are called at the conse- 
cration meetings, they should not be expected to 
make any response except " Present," though of 
course all would be glad to have them testify at that 
time ; and their names should be called in a list by 
themselves, before the roll of active members.] 

4. Afflliated or Honorary Members. All j)ersons 
who, though no longer young, are still interested in 
the society, and wish to have some connection with 
it, though the}" cannot regularly attend the meet- 
ings, may become honorary members. Their names 
shall be kept upon the list under the appropriate 
heading, but shall not be called at the roll-call meet- 
ing. It is understood that the society may look to 



20 THE officers' HANDBOOK. 

the lionoraiy members for financial and moral sup- 
port in all worthy efforts. (For a special class of 
honorary members, see Article XI.) 

[The term, '• honorary members," is in common 
use rather than " affiliated members." This class of 
members is made up of older Christians that enjoy 
the Christian Endeavor meetings, and wish to be in 
close touch with the society for the sake of helping 
it along. The class is also for those that have served 
for a term of years in the society, and, graduating 
from it to take up the full duty of the older portion 
of the church, desire to retain some connection with 
the work they have come to love. No young person 
whose circumstances do not forbid his becoming an 
active or an associate member should be allowed to 
become an honorary member.] 

5. These different persons shall become members, 
upon being elected by the society, after carefully 
examining the Constitution and By-Laws, and upon 
signing their names to them, thereby pledging them- 
selves to live up to their requirements. 

[There is also a provision in regard to signing the 
pledge, which, indeed, is embodied in the constitu- 
tion. See Article VIII.] 

Article ly.—Ojflcei^s. 

1. The officers of this society shall be a President, 
Vice-President, Recording Secretary, Corresponding 
Secretary, and Treasurer, who shall be chosen from 
among the active members of tlie society. 

[Of course, other officers may be added. Some 



THE officers' HAKDBOOK. 21 

societies will wish to include the organist in this 
list. Some societies of small membership give the 
offices of recording secretary and treasurer to the 
same person.] 

2. There shall also be a Lookout Committee, a 
Prayer-Meeting Committee, a Social Committee, 
and such other committees- as tlie local needs of 
each society may require, each consisting of five 
active members. .Tliere shall also be an Executive 
Committee, as provided in Article VI. 

[The number of members to be placed upon a 
committee must vary with the size of the society, 
three being the minimum for an efficient committee. 
Some societies have the excellent custom of placing 
each member on a committee, assigning each new 
member also to a committee as soon as he is elected.] 

Article Y.— Duties of Officers. 

1. President. The President of the society shall 
perform the duties usually pertaining to that office. 
He shall have especial watch over the interests of 
the society, and it shall be his care to see that the 
different committees perform the duties devolving 
upon them. He shall be chairman of the Executive 
Committee. 

2. Vice-President. The Vice-President shall as- 
sist the President, and perform his duties in his 
absence. 

[A foot-note to the Model Constitution suggests that 
the Vice-President be secretary of the executive 
committee. The suggestion has never found favor 
with the societies, and it seems to the present writer 



22 THE officers' haxdbook. 

that the recording secretar}' of the society, having 
charge of all the records, and being chosen because 
of fitness for such work, should keep these minutes 
also. In the chapter on the work of the vice-pres- 
ident, I have pointed out other, and, I tliink, better, 
ways of utilizing this little-used officer.] 

3. Corresponding Secretary. It shall be the duty 
of the Corresponding Secretary to keep the local 
society in communication with the State and local 
Christian Endeavor unions and with the United 
Society, and to present to his own societ}' such mat- 
ters of interest as may come from tlie United So- 
ciety, from other local societies, and from other 
authorized sources of Christian Endeavor informa- 
tion. This office shall be held permanently by the 
same person, as long as he is able to perform its 
duties satisfactorily, and his name should be for- 
warded to the United Society immediately after 
election. 

[The somewhat common complaint in regard to the 
efficiency of this officer is doubtless warranted, but 
the cause lies back of the corresponding secretaries, 
in the members of the societies themselves, who do 
not realize the importance of the post, nor under- 
stand what qualifications are required, and therefore 
do not see to it that the position is appropriately 
filled. See the chapter on the corresponding secre- 
tary.] 

4. Recording Secretary. It shall be the duty of 
the Recording Secretary to keep a record of the 
members, to correct it from time to time, as may 
be necessary, and to obtain the signature of each 



THE officers' tiaxdbook. 23 

newly-elected member to the Constitution ; also to 
correspond with absent members, and to inform 
them of their standing in the society; also to keep 
correct minutes of all business meetings of the 
society ; also to notify all persons elected to office 
or to committees. 

[It might be thought that the corresponding with 
absent members should belong to the corresponding- 
secretary, and so it should, on any other subject ; 
but the recording secretary has the records, and is 
the more suitable person to spur the absent members 
to their duty, unless, indeed, the lookout committee 
undertake this delicate task. It should be noted 
that the secretary may not correct the list of mem- 
bers on his owm authority, but only after the vote of 
the lookout committee.] 

5. Treasurer. It shall be the duty of the Treas- 
urer to keep safely all moneys belonging to the 
society, and to pay out only such sums as shall be 
voted by the society. 

[Of course the society or the executive committee 
may give permission to certain committees to draw 
on the treasurer for the needs of their work, and it 
is not customary for the society to vote upon slight 
and habitual payments, as for topic cards, postage, 
and little expenses attending the socials, but only on 
the disiDOsition of large sums, such as the gifts to 
missions, or of small sums when they are to go in 
unusual ways. Strictly, too, the treasurer should 
pay out money only on written order from the sec- 
retary, but in practice this formality is generally 
dispensed with.] 



24 THE officers' handbook. 

Article Yl.— Duties of Committees. 

1. Lookout Committee. It shall be the duty of 
this committee to bring new members into the so- 
ciety, to introduce them to the work and to the 
other members, and affectionately to look after and 
reclaim any that seem indifferent to their duties. 
as outlined in the pledge. This committee shall 
also, by personal investigation, satisfy itself of the 
fitness of young persons to become members of 
this society, and shall propose their names at least 
one week before their election to membership, hav- 
ing first presented such names to the Pastor for 
approval. 

[It is especially necessary that the new members 
understand what they promise in the pledge. The 
lookout committee should have each of them 
read the pledge, and should question him upon it, 
clause by clause, making sure that he comi^rehends 
each section, and means to abide by it. J 

2. Prayer-Meeting Committee. It shall be the 
duty of this committee to have in charge the prayer 
meeting, and to see that a topic is assigned and a 
leader appointed for every meeting, and to do what 
it can to secure faithfulness to the prayer-meeting 
pledge. 

[In the last clause the duties of the prayer-meet- 
ing committee are made of necessity to overlap the 
duties of the lookout committee. Broadly speaking, 
the prayer-meeting committee looks to the general 
fidelity of the entire society in the matter of prayer- 

and the lookout committee 



THE officers' HANDBOOK. 25 

speciaHzes more, having regard to the standing of 
each member.] 

3. Social Committee. It shaH be the duty of this 
committee to promote the social interests of the 
society by welcoming strangers to the meetings, 
and by providing for tlie mutual acquaintance of 
the members by occasional sociables, for which any 
appropriate entertainment, of which the church 
approves, may be provided. 

[There can never be just criticism of our socials 
if the clause, "of which the church approves," is 
followed out. All plans for socials should be sub- 
mitted, in outline, at least, to the pastor.J 

4. Executive Committee. This committee shall 
consist of the Pastor of the church, the officers of 
the society, and the chairmen of the various com- 
mittees. All matters of business requiring debate 
shall be brought first before this committee, and by 
it reported to the society either favorably or ad- 
versely. All discussion of proposed measures shall 
take place before this committee, and not before 
the society. Recommendations concerning the 
finances of the society shall also originate with this 
committee. 

[It has been observed in Article V. that the pres- 
ident is chairman of this committee. The commit- 
tee should meet regularly, at least once a month, 
before the monthly business meeting. The object 
of the committee is two-fold : "To prevent waste 
of time in the regular meeting of the society by 
useless debate and unnecessary parliamentary prac- 
tice, which are always harmful to the spirit of the 



26 THE OFFICERS^ HAXDBOOK. 

prayer meeting," aucl also to counsel together con- 
cerning the society work. See the chapter on this 
important committee.] 

5. Each committee, except the Executive, shall 
make a report in writing to the society, at the 
monthly business meetings, concerning the work of 
the past month. 

[The recording secretary generally keeps these 
records on file. The executive committee also may 
properly present a report, as outlined elsewhere. 

Article Yll. — TJie Prayer Meeting, 

All the active members shall be j://'esenf at every 
meeting unless detained by some absolute necessity, 
and each active member shall take some x:^arty hoio- 
ever slight, in every meeting. To the above all tJie 
active members shall pledge themselves, understand- 
ing by •' absolute necessity *' some reason for absence 
which can conscientiously be given to their Master, 
Jesus Clirist. 

[Of course the common sense of the society must 
be exercised to determine what is •' some part, how- 
ever slight,'' in the meeting. The pledge itself shuts 
out singing as a sufficient participation. TJie mere 
calling for a hymn to be sung, without adding any 
word of personal testimony, or the mere answering 
of • ' Present " at the roll-call, should not be considered 
as meeting this requirement.] 

Article YTH.—The Pledge. 

All persons on becoming active members of the 
Society shall sign the following pledge : — 



THE OFFICER^' IIAXDBOOK. 27 

Trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ for strength, I jjromise 
Him that I will strive to do whatever He would like to have 
nie do ; that I will make it the rule of my life to pray and to 
read the Bible every day, and to support my own church in 
every way, especially by attending all her regular Sunday and 
mid-week services, unless prevented by some reason which I 
can conscientiously give to my Saviour ; and that, just so far as 
I know how, throughout my whole life, I will endeavor to lead 
a Christian life. 

As an active member, I promise to be true to all my duties, 
to be present at, and to take some part, aside from singing, in 
every Christian Endeavor prayer meeting, unless hindered by 
some reason which I can conscientiously give to my Lord and 
Master. If obliged to be absent from the monthly consecra- 
tion meeting of the society, I will, if possible, send at least a 
verse of Scripture to be read in response to my name at 
the roll-call. 

Signed 

[The United Society adds here the important foot- 
note : " If this exact form of words is not adopted, 
it is earnestly hoped that it will not be weakened or 
toned down, but that a pledge embracing the ideas 
of private devotion, loyalty to the church, and out- 
spoken confession of Christ in the weekly meeting, 
will be adopted."] 

Article IX. — The Consecration Mdeting. 

1. Once each month a consecration or covenant 
meeting shall be held, at which each active member 
shall renew his vow^s of consecration. If any one 
chooses, he can express his feelings by an appropri- 
ate verse of Scripture or other quotation. 

[In regard to this, we should be careful to apply 
the section of our pledge in which we promise to try 
to do "whatever Christ would like to have us do." 



28 THE officers' handbook. 

Certainly He wants us to make onr praypr-meeting 
participation as helpful as possible, both to others 
and to ourselves, and generally the mere reading of 
a verse of Scripture without the addition of some 
word, however brief, to indicate that the passage is 
used to express the Endeavorer's feelings and experi- 
ence, would not be the best possible mode of taking 
part in the meeting.] 

2. At each consecration meeting the roll shall be 
called (or some equally thorough method of making 
tho record may be adopted), and the responses of the 
active members shall be considered as renewed ex- 
pressions of allegiance to Christ. It is expected 
that if any one is obliged to he absent from this meet- 
ing, he ivill send a message, or at least a verse of 
Scripture, to be read in response to his name at the 
roll-call. 

[This implied suggestion of variations from the 
one form of calling the roll should be heeded more 
widely than it is ; also the hint that some personal, 
individual message is to be preferred to the mere 
copying and sending of a verse from the Bible.] 

3. If any active member of this society is absent 
from this monthly meeting and fails to send a mes- 
sage, the Lookout Committee is expected to take the 
name of such a one, and in a kind and brotherly 
spirit ascertain the reason for the absence. If any 
active memher of the society is absent and unex- 
cused from three consecutive montldy meetings, such 
a one ceases to be a member of the society, and his 
name, on vote of the Lookout Committee and the 
Pastor, shall be stridden from the list of members. 



THE officers' ha;n^dbook. 20 

[Note that the lookout committee is expected to 
investigate the very first unexplained absence, noc 
to wait till there have been three of them. Note 
also that if the lookout committee cannot excuse 
the three absences, the person ceases to be a mem- 
ber, though the requirement of the consent of the 
pastor is a check on haste and harmful action, if 
any is likely to be taken. No announcement what- 
ever should be made before the society. The name 
should be quietly dropped by the secretary, and that 
is all.] 

4. Any associate member who, without good 
reason, is regularly absent from the prayer meet- 
ings, and shows no interest whatever in the w^ork 
of the society, may, upon vote of the Lookout Com- 
mittee and Pastor, be dropped from the roll of 
members. 

[This has no reference to the consecration meeting, 
since the associate member has made no promise 
concerning it. Hold on to the associate member as 
long as you think he is getting good from the so- 
ciety, and not doing a jDreponderating amount of 
harm.] 

Article X. — Business Meetings and Elections. 

1. Business meetings may be held in connection 
with the prayer meeting, or at any other time in 
accordance with the call of the President. 

[Since our Christian Endeavor business meetings 
are all concerned solel}^ with religious matters, and 
with hearing the reports of religious work, they are 
not inappropriate to the Lord's Day, if the society 



30 THE OFPICEES' HAXDBOOK. 

meets on that day. A full Christian Endeavor 
business meeting ought to be carried through within 
twenty minutes. It is better, however, to meet on 
some evening when more time can be obtained 
without encroaching upon the time of the prayer 
meeting, and not a few societies hold their business 
meetings in connection with tlieir socials. The 
executive committee may call a business meeting 
through the president, or, in his absence, through 
the officer next in rank. A business meeting should 
be held eTery month, as indicated in Article VI., 5, 
and a good plan is always to hold the business 
meeting on the last, and the consecration meeting 
on the first, Sunday of each month.] 

2. An election of the officers and committees slmll 
be held once in six months. Names may be pro- 
posed by a Nominating Committee aj^pointed by 
the President, of which the Pastor shall be a 
member ex officio. 

[•' Once a year, if jDref erred,'' says a foot-note in 
the Model Constitution, regarding the frequency of 
elections. It depends a little upon whether the 
society possesses an abundance of material sufficient 
to warrant semi-annual elections. The advantage 
of the nominating committee is that it insures a 
wise and careful review of the whole field, and 
previous conversations with the nominees to make 
sure that they will not refuse to serve. Nomination 
by this committee should be equivalent to an elec- 
tion, since it is not best or customary for the com- 
mittee to present more tlian one name for each 
office. A struggle for votes among the friends of 



THE officers' HAXDBOOK. 31 

two candidates, however exciting and interesting, 
is not profitable in any way. It will be seen that 
the nominating committee is the most important 
committee of the year, and should be made up witli 
gi'eat care. The pastor's presence upon it is very 
essential.] 

Article XI. — Relation to the Church, 

This society, being a part of the church, owes 
allegiance only and altogether to the church with 
which it is connected. The Pastors, Deacons, Elders 
or Stewards, and Sunday-school Superintendent, if 
not active members, shall be, ex officiis, honorary 
members. Any difficult question shall be laid 
before them for advice, and their decision shall be 
final. It shall be understood that the nomination 
of officers or other action taken by the society shall 
be subject to revision or veto by the church ; that in 
every way the society sliall put itself under the 
control of the official board of the church, and shall 
make a report to the church 'monthly, quarterly, or 
annually, as the church may direct. 

[It is often asked whether the pastor should join 
as an active member. That depends entirely upon 
his other duties, and upon his judgment as to what 
course will be best for the society and the church. 
If he wishes to be an active member, should he be 
voted in like any other person ? He will doubtless 
wish, for the sake of the example, to come in just as 
the others do. The report to the church should be 
made by the president or the secretary, as the 
church and the society prefer.] 



32 THE officers' handbook. 



Article XII. — Relation of the Junior Society. 

Tlie Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor 
and the Junior Society being united by ties of closest 
s^'mpathy and common effort, monthly (or at least 
annual) reports should be read to the Young 
People's Society by the Junior Superintendent. 
When the boys and girls reach the age of fourteen, 
they shall be transferred to the older society. Special 
pains shall be taken to see that a share of the duties 
and responsibilities of the prayer meetings and of 
the general work of the society shall be borne by 
the younger members. 

[In my opinion, the most helpful connection 
between the two societies is made by means of a 
'• Junior committee *' from the older society, which 
assists the Junior superintendent. Sometimes let a 
Junior report for his society at the monthly business 
meeting. If your church has an Intermediate so- 
ciety, the transfer at the age of fourteen will be to 
it, and the Young People's society svill stand in the 
same relation to the Intermediates as to the Juniors.] 

Article Xlll.—FeUoicship. 

This society, while owing allegiance onl^^ to its 
own church, is united by ties of spiritual fellowship 
with other Christian Endeavor societies the world 
around. This fellowship is based upon a common 
love to Christ, is cemented by a common pledge 
and common methods of work, and is guaranteed 
bv a common name, ''Christian Endeavor," used 



THE officers' han^dbook. 33 

either alone or in conection with some denomina- 
tional name. 

This fellowship is that of an interdenominational, 
not an undenominational, organization. It is pro- 
moted by local-union meetings, State and national 
conventions, and still further by the work of the 
Information Committee, w^hich it is hoped will be 
adopted by each society. (See By-Laws, Article X.) 

[The compound name, such as *' Epworth League 
of Christian Endeavor," '* Baptist Union of Christian 
Endeavor," is extensively used. With the excep- 
tion of only one denomination, Christian Endeavor 
societies are permitted by their churches to belong 
at the same time to their denominational union and 
to the Christian Endeavor interdenominational fel- 
lowship.] 

Article XIV.— Withdrawals, 

Any member who may wish to withdraw from the 
society shall state the reasons to the Lookout Com- 
mittee and Pastor, and if these reasons seem suf- 
ficient, he may be allowed to withdraw. 

[No announcement is made of this withdrawal ; the 
secretary is simply instructed to drop the name from 
the roll. Such a person, if he wishes to return to 
the society, must be voted in as if he had never been 
a member.] 

Article XY .—Miscellaneous, 

Any other committees may be added and duties 
assumed by this society wdiich in the future may 
seem best. 
3 



34 THE officers' handbook, 



Article XVI. — Transfer of Members, 

Since it would in the end defeat the very object 
of our organization if the older active members, who 
have been trained in the society for usefulness in 
the church, should remain content with fulfilling 
their pledge to the society only, therefore it is ex- 
pected that the older members, when it shall be- 
come impossible for them to attend two weekly 
prayer meetings, shall be transferred to the honorary 
membership of the society, if previously faithful to 
their vows as active members. This transfer, how- 
ever, shall be made with the understanding that the 
obligation to faithful service shall still be. binding 
uj)on them in the regular church prayer meeting. 
It shall be left to the Lookout Committee, in con- 
junction with the Pastor, to see that this transfer of 
membership is made as occasion requires. 

[This is quite different from dropping a name from 
the roll, and as it is a step in Christian Endeavor 
which should be emphasized, it is desirable to rec- 
ognize such graduation by some public exercise, such 
as is outlined in a later chapter of this book.] 

Article XYIl.— Amendment, 

This Constitution may be amended at any regular 
business meeting, by a two-thirds vote of the entire 
active membership of the society, provided that a 
written statement of the proposed amendment shall 
have been read to the society and deposited with the 
Secretary at the regular business meeting next 
preceding. 



THE officers' hakdbook, 35 

BY-LAWS. 

[These by-laws are only specimen rules, given as 
suggestions, to be adopted in whole or in part as the 
needs of each society require.] 

Article I. 

This society shall hold a prayer meeting on 

evening of each week. The 

regular prayer meeting of the month shall be a con- 
secration meeting, at which the roll shall be called. 

Article II. 

Metliod of conducting the Consecration Meeting. 

At this meeting the roll may be called by the 
leader during the meeting or at its close. After the 
opening exercises, tlie names of five or more may be 
called, and then a hymn sung or a praj'^er offered. 
The committees may be called by themselves, or 
other variations of the roll-call introduced. Thus 
varied, with singing and prayer interspersed, the 
entire roll shall be called. 

Article ni„ 

This society shall hold its regular business meeting 
in connection with the regular prayer meet- 
ing in the month. Special business meetings may 
be held at the call of the President. 

[" This business meeting," says a foot-note of the 
Model Constitution, " w^ill usually be simply for the 
hearing of reports from the committees, or for such 



36 THE officers' ha:n^dbook, 

matters as will not detract from the spiritual tone 
of the meeting. All matters requiring discussion, 
it will be remembered, are to be brought before the 
Executive Committee, and not oefore the society." 
Of course this remark does not apply so closely to 
the business meetings that are not held in connec- 
tion with the prayer meetings.] 

Article IV. 

The election of officers and committees shall be 
held at the first business meeting in 

A Nominating Committee shall be appointed by 
the President at least two weeks previous to the 
time for electing new officers. Of this committee 
the Pastor shall be a member ex offlcio. It is under- 
stood that these officers are chosen subject to the 
approval of the church. If there is no objection on 
the part of the church, the election stands. The 
following clause of the By-Laws may be read at the 
society before each semi-annual election of 
officers : — 

While membership on the board of officers or 
committees of this society should be distributed as 
evenly as the best good of the society will warrant, 
among the different members, the offices should not 
be considered places of honor to be striven for, but 
simply opportunities for increased usefulness, and 
any ill feeling or jealousy springing from this cause 
shall be deemed unworthy a member of the Society 
of Christian Endeavor. "When, however, a member 
has been fairly elected, it is expected that he will 
consider his office a sacred trust, to be conscien- 



THE OFFICEES' HANDBOOK. 37 

tiously accepted, and never to be declined except for 
most urgent and valid reasons. 

Article V. 

Applications for membership may be made on 
printed forms, which shall be supplied by the Look- 
out Committee and returned to them for considera- 
tion. 

Names may be proposed for membersliip one week 
before the business meeting, and shall be voted on 
by the society at that meeting. Tlie Lookout Com- 
mittee may, in order to satisfy itself of the Christian 
character of the candidate, present to all candidates 
for active or associate membership one of the follow- 
ing cards to be signed : — 

Active Member's Pledge. 

Trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ for strength, I promise 
Him that I will strive to do whatever He would like to have me 
do ; that I will make it the rule of my life to pray and to read 
the Bible every day, and to support ray own church in every 
way, especially by attending all her regular Sunday and mid- 
week services, unless prevented by some reason which I can 
conscientiously give to my Saviour ; and that, just so far as I 
know how, throughout my w^hole life, I will endeavor to lead a 
Christian life. 

As an active member, I promise to be true to all my duties, 
to be present at, and to take some part, aside from singing, in 
every Christian Endeavor prayer meeting, unless hindered by 
some reason which I can conscientiously give to my Lord and 
Master. If obliged to be absent from the monthly consecration 
meeting of the society, I will, if possible, send at least a verse 
of Scripture to be read in response to my name at the roll-call. 

Signed 



88 THE officers' ha^^dbook. 

Associate Member's Pledgee. 

As an associate member, I promise to attend the prayer 
meetings of the society habitually, and declare my willingness 
to do what I may be called upon to do as an associate member 
to advance the interests of the society. 

Signed 

[Some societies think it more suitable and im- 
pressive to receive new members at the consecra- 
tion meeting than at the business ineeting. The 
best order, in my opinion, is for the names to be 
proposed at the business meeting, and voted upon at 
the consecration meeting which follows the next 
week, the new members being at once received into 
the society, and joining with the other members in 
repeating the pledge.] 

Article VI, 

Persons who have forfeited their membership may 
be re-admitted on recommendation of the Lookout 
Committee and Pastor and by vote of the members 
present at any regular business meeting. 

Article VII. 

New members shall sign the Constitution, w^iicli 
shall contain the pledge, within four weeks from 
their election, to confirm the vote of the society. 

Article VIII. 

Any one who cannot accept the office to which he 
may be elected shall notify the President before the 
next business meeting, at which the vacancy shall be 



THE officers' HANDBOOK. 39 

filled. In the meantime, the former officer holds the 
position. 

Article IX. 

Letters of Introduction to other Christian En- 
deavor societies shall be given to members in good 
standing who apply to be released from their obli- 
gations to the society, this release to take effect 
when they shall become members of another society ; 
until then, their names shall be kept on the Absent 
List. Members removing to other places, or desiring 
to join other Christian Endeavor societies in the 
same city or town, are requested to obtain Letters of 
Introduction within six months from the time of 
their leaving, unless they shall give satisfactory 
reasons to the society for their further delay. 

[These letters of introduction do not take the place 
of regular election to membership, which must be 
done by the new^ society just as by the old.] 

Article X. 

Other committees may be added, according to the 
needs of local societies, whose duties may be defined 
as follows : — 

Information Committee. It shall be the duty of 
this committee to gather information concerning 
Endeavorers or Endeavor work, in all parts of the 
world, and to report the same. For this purpose, 
five minutes shall be set aside at the beginning of 
each meeting. 

Sunday -School Committee. It shall be the duty of 
this committee to endeavor to bring into the Sunday 
school those who do not attend elsewhere, and to co- 



40 THE OFFICEKS^ HANDBOOK. 

operate with the Superintendent and officers of the 
school in any ways which they may suggest for the 
benefit of the Sunday school. 

Calling Committee. It shall be the duty of this 
committee to have a special care for those among the 
young people who do not feel at home in the church, 
to call on them, and to remind others where calls 
should be made. 

Music Committee. It shall be the duty of this 
committee to provide for the singing at the young- 
people's meeting, and also to turn the musical abil- 
ity of the society to account, wlien necessary, at 
public religious meetings. 

Missionary Committee. It shall be the duty of 
this committee to provide for regular missionary 
meetings, to interest the members of the society in 
all ways in missionary topics, and to aid, in any 
manner which may seem practicable, the cause of 
home and foreign missions. 

Flower Committee. It shall be the duty of this 
committee to provide flowers for the pulpit, and to 
distribute them to the sick at the close of the Sab- 
bath services. 

Temperance Committee. It shall be the duty of 
this committee to do what may be deemed best to 
promote temperance principles and sentiment among 
the members of the society. 

Relief Committee. It shall be the duty of this 
committee to do what it can to cheer and aid, by 
material comforts if possible and necessary, the sick 
and destitute among the young people of the church 
and Sunday school. 



THE officers' HANDBOOK. 41 

Good- Literature Committee. It shall be the duty 
of this committee to do its utmost to promote the 
reading of good books and papers. To this end it 
shall do wliat it can to circulate the religious news- 
paper representing the society among its members, 
also to obtain subscribers for the denominational 
papers or magazines among the families of the con- 
gregation as the Pastor and church may direct, It 
ma}", if deemed best, distribute tracts and religious 
leaflets, and in any other suitable way which maj^ be 
desired introduce good reading-matter wherever 
practicable. 

Other committees not here found may be added 
as occasion may demand and the church may desire. 

Article XI. 

Members who cannot meet with this society for a 
time are requested to obtain leave of absence, which 
shall be granted by the Lookout Committee and 
Pastor and withdrawn at any time by the same, and 
their names shall be placed on the Absent List. 

[Do not permit this "absent list" to become a 
catch-basket for the slothful. It is intended only 
for temporary absentees. If the member returns, 
notify him that he is restored to the regular list and 
is expected to return to his duties. If he is to be 
absent for a long time, suggest his joining a society 
where he is sojourning,] 

Article XII. 

members shall constitute a quorum. 

[It is my opinion that a quorum should consist of 



42 THE officers' handbook. 

a majority of the members, and if you cannot get a 
majority at your business meetings, you would bet- 
ter educate the society until you can.] 

Article XIII. 

These B^'-Laws may be amended by a two-thirds 
vote of the members present at any regular meet- 
ing, provided that notice of such amendment is 
given in writing and is recorded by the Secretary at 
least one week before the amendment is acted uj)on. 

[Of course such a notice should be given at some 
meeting of the society.] 



THE officers' HANDBOOK. 43 



CHAPTER IV. 
THE president's WORK. 

There is no cliaracteristic of a good Christian 
worker that a Christian Endeavor president will not 
find useful in his important undertaking. If I were 
to name in order the qualities that are most essen- 
tial, I should say consecration, judgment, tact, per- 
severance. Consecration, because his work will 
amount to nothing if it is done for himself or for 
the society ; it must be done for God. Judgment, 
because it is as necessary for him to know what not 
to do as what to do, when to keep silent as when to 
speak, what plans to leave alone, as well as what to 
adopt ; he needs a level head. Tact, because he is 
not to do things so much as to get them done, and 
all his plans will fail, and his consecration have 
slight result, if he does not know how to influence 
others and set them at work. Perseverance, be- 
cause he will meet with many difficulties, because 
plans will not carry themselves out, and because 
one thing actually accomplished is better than 
many things merely begun or only desired. 

In my opinion, the president should be a young 
man, not because a young man can always do the 
work better than a young woman, but because lead- 
ership is man's natural and God-appointed office, 
and because Christian Endeavor, like all good causes, 



44 THE orncERs' haxdbook. 

has the young women any way, but must use every 
inducement to win and hold the boys and young 
men ; and certainly they can be better won and held 
with a young man in the chair. 

One of the president's most necessaiy qualifica- 
tions is that he should not be afraid or reluctant to 
lead. Quietly and modestly he should keep the 
wlieels in motion, propose plans, and see that they 
are carried out. and always take his rightful place 
in t)ie forefront of society enterprises. All this, of 
coiu'se, should be done with the most entire open- 
ness to suggestions from others, and with constant 
remembrance of his fallibility. Lead them, — but do 
not be pig-headed and lead them into a i^en. 

The president must keep in intimate contact with 
all his officers and committeemen. He should work 
with the Junior superintendent as heartily as if h^ 
were — as he actually is — her assistant. Whether or 
not he is placed by the church upon its official 
board, — and, in my judgment, that recognition 
should be given him for more reasons than one, — the 
Christian Endeavor president should cultivate the 
closest relations with the pastor and the Sunday- 
school superintendent. He should know all the 
members of his society, and should prove himself a 
friend of all. 

In every ix)int the president should endeavor to 
make- himself a model. He is a sort of pattern for 
the society, and his excellencies and defects will 
crop out in many unexi>ected jDlaces. He should 
add enthusiasm to the work of all the committees, 
pitching in and taking with them the first steps, at 



THE officers' HANDBOOK. 45 

least, in all their enterprises. He should be ready 
to s^Dend time and money in the society work. He 
should be the most social at the socials, and the 
most devout at the prayer meetings. He should by 
all means take part regularly in the church prayer 
meetings, and be a faithful Sunday-school worker. 
Let him prove by his own activities that Christian 
Endeavor does train a young Christian for all the 
work of the church. Though he should speak in 
every meeting, the president should not keep him- 
self before the society with offensive prominence, 
but should make every appearance of his before the 
society tell, planning with care wiiatever he is to 
say, even to the announcement of a union meeting, 
and storing up for these utterances the best he can 
find of anecdote, quotation, the cream of his own 
thoughts and experiences. 

Let me say in passing that it will be of the great- 
est helpfulness to the president if he carry with him 
a small note-book, especially and strictly reserved 
for memoranda of society plans and engagements. 

Should the president accept re-election ? That 
depends upon the condition of the society. If it is 
weak, with only a few possible leaders, it might be 
best for the president to serve for more tlian one 
term. Alwa3\s, however, it must be the president's 
concern to train up some one to be his successor, and 
to retire just as soon as that successor is ready to 
step forward. 

I have discussed in separate chapters the four 
most prominent phases of the president's activity, — 
namely, his work in the prayer meeting, his super- 



46 THE officers' handbook. 

intendence of the commit tees, his labors in connec- 
tion with Christian Endeavor unions, and his con- 
duct of the business meetings. To these chapters I 
must ask those presidents to turn that honor me with 
reading this book. In conclusion, however, let me 
say that no- labors in which you could possibly engage 
would do more for you than this leadership in your 
Christian Endeavor society. As you build up the 
society, it will build you up. You will become a 
more efficient speaker. You will gain ability in 
business. You will develop tact, and priceless skill 
in directing others. Courage and confidence will 
come to you ; and with it all, and as the basis of it 
all, you will be gaining power with God, which 
underlies all genuine and noble power with men. 
Is it not well worth while ? 



THE officers' HAIS'DBOOK. 47 



CHAPTER V. 

THE PRESIDENT IN THE PRAYER MEETING. 

There is a business meeting once a month, but 
there is a prayer meeting every week, audit is in the 
prayer meeting that the president can best impress 
the society with his ideas, and stimulate the mem- 
bers to better work. In the first place, if the society 
has the very helpful custom of holding with the 
leader a meeting for prayer before the regular meet- 
ing, he should be present with the prayer-meeting 
committee, and though the meeting should be led by 
the chairman of tlie prayer-meeting committee, he 
should inspire the little gathering all he can. Espe- 
cially he should see that it does not hinder the fol- 
lowing meeting, but is begun and closed on time. 

It is well to establisli in your society the custom of 
requiring the leaders always to call for items of 
business at the outset of the meeting, after the first 
song. If, however, you have not this custom, the 
president should always inform the leader before- 
hand when he has matters of business to present. 

Since this preliminary business gives, in a 
sense, the keynote to the meeting, it is of im- 
portance that it should be well managed. It is an 
art to give out a notice in the best way. Do not 
read it. Have the points distinctly in mind. Do 
not introduce needless particulars, but give the 



48 THE officers' handbook. 

essentials only, and nothing that does not concern 
the society. Repeat in different ways the chief 
points, such as the times and place of meetings, to 
which the society is invited. Be brisk, but not 
clownish. Be earnest, but never scold. Indeed, if 
you can get a little fun into these opening announce- 
ments, it will act like a tonic upon the meeting to 
follow. 

In the meeting proper the president will constitute 
himself an unobtrusive, but none the less real, assist- 
ant leader. If the leader, for instance, fails to call 
on the information committee for its usual report, 
or forgets to save the pastor's five minutes at the end 
of the hour, the president will not hesitate to remind 
him of these matters. If a hymn is called for — 
whether by the leader, or by any one else — in an in- 
distinct voice, he will ask for the announcement 
a^in, or, if he heard it, he will repeat it in a louder 
tone. If there is no music committee, he will not 
hesitate to start hymns impromptu. If a hymn is 
called for toward the close of the meeting, when 
time is precious, he will feel free to suggest that that 
hymn be held in reserve till the last. If the leader 
does not call for sentence prayers, the president will 
do so, beginning them himself. If he wants to en- 
courage some of the faint-hearted members, he will 
cry, "Good!" after their testimonies; or, when 
some helpful thought has been uttered almost in- 
audibly by some frightened Endeavorer, he w^ill 
repeat it, with a word of praise. Occasionally he 
will interject a pointed question to stimulate the 
discussion. 



THE OFFICERS HANDBOOK. 49 

If there is any disorder, it is the president's duty 
to quell it at once. It is his duty, also, to see that 
the Endeavorers conduct themselves properly in the 
interval between their own meeting and the church 
meeting that follows. If there is no committee, 
such as the w^hatsoever committee, to whom this 
work might be assigned, the president will himself 
see that the room is ventilated, that the song- books 
are in the racks, and the chairs restored to order for 
the meeting. All points in which the society's good 
name is at stake should receive the president's jealous 
care . 

If a stranger is present, the president should go to 
him at once, even during the meeting, and learn his 
name, tell him the evening's topic, and invite him 
to speak. To be sure, the social committee should 
do this, but the president, as representing the so- 
ciety, should not fail to do it also. Later in the 
meeting, if the person is one that will be ready 
to speak, the president should introduce him to the 
society and say how glad they will be for a few* w^ords 
from the stranger, either now or in the course of the 
meeting. 

Equal attention should be paid, of course, to the 
older church members that may visit the society, 
and to the pastor. Indeed, it will do much to inter- 
est the church in the society if the president will 
make it a x^oint to invite some one man or woman to 
attend each meeting and say a word to the young 
folks. The evening service of the church should 
always be announced in the Christian Endeavor 
society, and the president is the proper person to 
4 



50 THE OFFICERS HA:NrDBOOK. 

make this announcement, coupling with it a hearty 
iuTitation to strangers, and emphasizing the pledge 
that all the members have taken. 

As to his own testimony in the meeting, the presi- 
dent should study to make it a worthy model, 
for as a model it will certainly serve. "Whether 
he prays or speaks, what he says should be 
earnest, brief, and right to the point. And let him 
not always take pains to stick to the topic, but let 
him often seize the opportunity to commend good 
committee work, or incorporate into his talk any 
especial advice or praise the society may need or 
deserve . 

As early as possible in his term of office, the presi- 
dent should lead a prayer meeting, and on this occa- 
sion he will endeavor to sound the keynote of his 
administration, and push the society out along many 
lines of noble endeavor. 



THE officers' HANDBOOK. 51 



CHAPTER VI. 

THE PRESIDENT AND THE COMMITTEES. 

For purposes of oversight, suggestion, and inspira- 
tion, the president should consider himself a mem- 
ber of every committee in his society. He has a 
right to attend every committee meeting, and he 
should often and regularly exercise that right. This 
will be difficult, unless he arranges for regularity in 
committee meetings, not only as to time but as to 
place, so that lie may always know where to find a 
certain committee meeting, and when. For in- 
stance, if his society has eight committees, he might 
get them to meet once a month and two each week, 
one on Tuesday and the other on Thursday, at 7 : 30 
P. M., and always at the house of the chairman. 
Once every month, then, or certainly once every 
two months, the president might meet with each 
committee. 

Especially at the opening of the year's work, the 
president should look after his committees with 
care. It is a fine plan to invite them all to meet at 
his house some evening. After some pleasant 
opening exercises, including possibly a jolly little 
address from the pastor, the committees will sep- 
arate and consider in different rooms their work for 
the coming term, the president and pastor going 



52 THE officers' ha:n"dbook. 

about from group to group. After some time the 
committees are called together, and each chairman 
reports to the entire company the plans his commit- 
tee has hit upon, these plans being followed by dis- 
cussions. The same method may be applied to an 
individual committee that is doing poor work : the 
president may invite it to his house for an evening 
of fresh suggestion and inspiration. 

In all such attendance on committee meetings, the 
president should take pains not to usurp the place 
of the chairman. Though he may occasionally give 
hints to the entire committee, it is much better to sug- 
gest plans in private to the chairman, and, if possible, 
make liim think that they are his plans. The chair- 
man will then be more interested in carrying them 
out. The president, therefore, should not talk much 
at the committee meeting— just a word here and 
there, when it is needed ; and especially let liim be 
lavish of praise, encouragement, and good cheer. 
He should hold in memory his own beginnings in 
committee work, remember his mistakes, and recall 
how much good such kindness from the president 
would have done him at that time. 

When the president finds it especially difficult to 
go to the committee meetings, he may adopt a plan 
whose very novelty will render it even more effect- 
ive than his visits— he may send them a letter to 
be read at the meeting, —a letter of warm, Chris- 
tian brotherhood, commending them for all their 
good w^ork, and telling them of something he would 
like to have them do. ^ 

The best thing the president can do for a commit- 



THE officers' HANDBOOK. 53 

tee is to use it. He should never do himself what 
he can get a committee to do for him. 

At the opening of Jiis term of office, the president 
should have a clear idea of v^^iat he wants from each 
committee — some step in advance for the commit- 
tee as a whole and as individual members. Tell 
them of it, and hold them up to it. Give each com- 
mittee a year's motto embodying your ambition for 
it. The giving of these mottoes will of itself make a 
pretty exercise for some meeting at the beginning 
of the term. Keep your eye on each committee, and 
see that they all are at work. One page of a special 
note-book sliould be given up to. each committee, 
and filled with brief notes regarding its plans and 
progress, together with new methods that may be 
suggested to them. 

The president can do his committees a service by 
talking with other presidents about their commit- 
tees, and reporting to his own society whatever 
methods he may thus learn. By all means see that 
your committees attend the committee conferences 
of your local union, take part themselves, and carry 
away as many good notions as possible. Put them 
in touch also with the best committee helps, intro- 
ducing them to the price-list of the United Society 
of Christian Endeavor publications. 

It is the custom of some societies, and might well 
become the custom in all societies, to appoint every 
member to some committee, and even when new 
members join in the course of a year, the president 
publicly assigns them to some committee as so onas 
their names appear on the society's roll. If a chair- 



54 THE OFFICERS HAis^DBOOK. 

nianship lapses, the president should at once see that 
it is filled by a nomination from the executive com- 
mittee (unless your constitution provides some other 
way), and by the election of the society. 

Of course this patient, careful, vigorous oversight 
of the committees will not need to be lavished upon 
all of them equally. There will be many commit- 
tees, and possibly the majority of them, led by 
skilled workers, whose labors will move with suffi- 
cient smoothness and force without his aid, so that 
he can largely concentrate his efforts upon the few 
committees that are weak and inexperienced. In 
helping them he will be doing most fruitful service, 
he will be training up laborers for the vineyard of 
his Master. 



THE officers' HANDBOOK. 55 



CHAPTER VII. 

THE PRESIDENT AND THE UNIONS. 

In probably a large majority of our city and 
county or district Christian Endeavor unions, the 
president is a member of the executive committee. 
By virtue of this office he is presumably well in- 
formed regarding union matters, and it is through 
his interest that the society is likely to be kept in 
touch with the union. How important this is, it 
ought not to be necessary to explain. Christian 
Endeavor exists not alone for the local society, nor 
even for the local church with which it is connected, 
but for all the brotherhood of churches. One of the 
special advantages of the Endeavor movement is the 
fact that it is interdenominational, and this side of 
its work is best brought out in the local union. A 
society that has nothing to do with its local union is 
quite certain to be of little benefit to its church and 
its own members, because it will lack the enthusiasm 
that comes from numbers and the knowledge that 
it is a part of the mighty army, and it will not share 
in the free interchange of new methods which adds 
to each society in the union the wisdom and practi- 
cal experience of all. An isolated society is only 
half a society. 

Of course, if the president is to arouse in his so- 
ciety an enthusiasm for the union, he must attend 



56 THE officers' HA2s^DB00K, 

faithfully the union executive committee meetings. 
For the honor of the society wliich he represents, as 
well as for the sake of the great cause in which the 
union is at work, let him go to these meetings with 
his head full of new ideas. In my manual, " Our 
Unions," I have treated union work with fulness in 
all its branches, and society presidents may be glad 
to know about the little book. Our president should 
be ready to take part in the discussions, tell the ex- 
perience of his society whenever that experience is 
called for or would be helpful, give his opinion on 
all points with modesty yet with force, and in every 
way uphold the hands of the union officers and show 
that his Endeavorers are willing to do their full duty. 
If speakers are needed for any exercise, he should 
mention those in his society or church that might 
perform the duty acceptably. If a sum of money 
must be raised for the union work, he should be 
bold enough to pledge his society to help, and he 
may even name the sum, it being understood that 
his society must vote on the matter. If a place for 
the next meeting is needed, let him offer his own 
church, having previously won permission from the 
proper authorities. 

It is usually the president that has to announce 
before his society the next meeting of the union. 
There are several ways of doing this. One is the 
scolding way, which says, in effect : "There were 
not half as many of you at tlie last union meeting as 
should have been there, and I am ashamed of you." 
Another is the stupid way, reading hastily in a half- 
audible tone the notice (often a card, and needing 



THE officers' hakdbook. 57 

to be expanded) of the union secretary. Another is 
the scattering way, which talks long and tediously 
about non-essentials, and leaves out of the notice 
almost everything that people want to know. The 
right way to announce the union meeting is not to 
read, but to give the information in your own words; 
to speak with earnestness, as if you meant what you 
said ; to speak brightly, putting a little fun into it ; 
to be business-like, making it very clear just who is 
to speak, where the meeting is to be held, and just 
when it w411 begin. This notice should be given as 
early as possible, with a request that the members 
reserve the evening of the meeting ; then let it be 
repeated on each succeeding week. The giving of 
notices in such a way that they will be heeded, and 
so attractively as to make people want to attend the 
meeting, is really a fine art. It cannot be done off- 
hand. It needs preparation as much as anything in 
the meeting. The society sliould have a bulletin 
board, — it will prove of value in a great many unex- 
pected ways. The secretary's notice sliould be 
posted upon this board, together with whatever else 
may arouse interest in the coming union gathering. 
The best way to make sure of a good attendance 
at the meetings of the union is for the president to 
constitute himself a committee of one to see every 
member and urge him to go. Let the members go 
in a body. Charter an electric car. Agree to meet 
on a certain train. Sit together at the union meet- 
ing. Applaud in a solid phalanx. Carry your so- 
ciety banner. Wear your society badges. A society 
cannot do good work without a strong, hearty esprit 



58 THE OFFICERS* HANDBOOK. 

de corps, and the union meetings afford an unequal- 
ed opportunit}^ for the cultivation of that spirit. 

It is the president's business also to see that his 
society has its fidl share in the activities of the union 
that may not be quite so public. For instance, when 
the union holds a committee conference, he should 
make sure tliat liis own society sends its committee, 
— entire, if possible. If the union carries on a press 
department, he should see that his own society and 
church report tlieir work with brightness and regu- 
larity. He will interest himself in the prompt re- 
sponse to all requests for statistics from the union 
secretary, and for money from the union treasurer. 
Tlie expenses of a Christian Endeavor union are so 
slight that no society should be remiss in contribut- 
ing its small share. If the union officers do not of 
their own accord visit his society, our model presi- 
dent will give them a cordial invitation, and when 
any one of them comes, the president will give him 
a warm introduction to the society, ask him to 
speak, and thank ^liim heartily at the close, getting 
up a little reception for him at the end of the meet- 
ing. 

Much of what has been said with reference to the 
local union will apply to the State union and tlie 
United Society of Christian Endeavor, with the con- 
ventions held by these bodies. It is by the president 
naturally that the society will be interested in these 
important bodies and assemblies — an interest wliich 
bears rich fruit, not only in the society, but in the 
great work at large. 



THE OFFICEES' HAIS^DBOOK. 59 



CHAPTER YIII. 

THE WORK OF THE VICE-PRESIDENT. 

If any officer has need to magnify his office, it is 
the vice-president. From the vice-president of the 
United States down, this office is held to be almost 
a sinecure, with little responsibility and therefore 
little honor. Let it not be so in our Christian En- 
deavor societies. 

For to neglect the possibilities of the vice-president 
is not only to suggest inaction to one who is 
probably among your best workers, but it is to 
rob your president of much of his efficiency, and 
the society of one of its leaders. The vice-president 
should be not only a substitute for the president 
when he is away, but the president's right hand 
when he is at home. The very fact that the vice- 
president w411 be obliged in the absence of the 
president to do all his work for him is enough to 
hint pretty broadly at the wisdom of giving the 
vice-president some of that work to do before the 
entire responsibility is thrust upon him. 

A president is indeed foolish if, having furnished 
him by the society an officer especially for his 
assistance — a favor granted to no other officer of the 
society-:— he disregards his vice-president, and carries 
on his work unaided. It is hard to say who is most 



64 THE OFFICEBS' HANDBOOK. 

earnestness, your minutes will uplift the society ; 
and if to your earnestness you add a bit of spice, you 
will win and hold attention, without which no 
amount of earnestness produces much result. I 
propose, then, three "f's" for your minutes : fact, 
fun, and force. 

Do not mind it if your minutes are criticised when 
the president calls for corrections, but receive the 
emendations with Christian humility. Never copy 
the minutes into the record book until they have 
been ap]3roved. 

Become familiar with the minutes of former 
years, since there is no knowing when some mem- 
ber of the society may wish for information in tlie 
business meetings, or elsewhere, on what the society 
lias already done in regard to almost any subject. 
Take tlie book with you to all meetings of the so- 
ciety, and also the book containing the membersliip 
roll. You will often find occasion to use both. 

It is your duty, unless there is a society librar}^ 
to preserve carefully the old record books of the 
society. These volumes, you must not forget, con- 
tain all the society history there is. Some secre- 
taries do a useful and pleasant thing for the society 
by getting up a card catalogue of society members, 
old and new, each card containing a condensed his- 
tory of the member — his birthplace, the date when 
he joined the society, his full address, and the like. 
When members graduate, or move away, the secre- 
tary still keeps track of them, and adds the chief 
facts that come to her knowledge, such as their 
marriage or entrance upon some important under- 



THE OFEICERS' HANDBOOK. 65 

taking. In future 3^ears such a card catalogue is 
invaluable for reference. 

It is the secretary's duty — again in case there is 
no society library — to receive and preserve all the 
committee reports. To this end they should be 
written on uniform paper, which the society might 
well furnish, and the reports of one jesii should be 
bound together, unless you prefer to place in patent 
'' binders " the reports of the several committees by 
themselves, so that each committee can at any time 
examine the history of all work along its line done 
in the society during the past years. If you follow 
this excellent plan, the secretary should still have 
the custody of the reports, but she should hand each 
file to the proper committee early in the term, so 
that the chairman may read it through. 

If the president and the society do not insist upon 
written reports, nevertheless the secretary should 
insist, and she should urge their value and neces- 
sity until this most beneficial custom has become 
established. 

The secretary's own report at the business meeting 
should be a general review of the month's work — a 
sort of condensation of her executive committee 
minutes. For the secretary should always attend 
the executive committee meetings, and should act 
as the committee's secretary, keeping its minutes 
as carefully as those of the society itself, since the 
executive committee is more of a deliberative body 
than the society. In addition, of course, she should 
feel free to make suggestions at any time, and,, 
indeed, to take as full part in the executive com- 




62 THE OFFICEKS^ HA:N"DB00K. 



CHAPTER IX. 

THE RECORDING SECRETARY'S WORK. 

Alas for the society that is burdened with the 
fussy secretary, or the untidy secretary, or the inac- 
curate secretary, or the slow secretary, or the timid 
secretary, or the giggling secretary, or any other 
kind of secretary but the right kind ! TMie secretary 
has much to do with the success of two meetings 
every month — the business meeting and the con- 
secration meeting, and with many important society 
interests during the intervening time. But her 
work (it usually is he7^s and not Ms) is not difficult 
or complicated ; and if it is done promptly, it takes 
but little time. 

In the first place, as to the minutes of the society, 
they should be kept neatly, in a substantial book 
solely for that purpose. Fine penmanship is not 
essential, and, indeed, " copybook " penmanship is 
usually very hard to read ; but distinct penmanship 
is essential. Of importance, too, is attention to 
spelling, and the knowledge that paragraplis must 
begin some distance in from the margin. Black ink, 
jet black, should always be used, since you want to 
make a permanent record. 

The minutes should include all motions passed, 
using the same words in which the motion is put by 



THE officers' HANDBOOK. 63 

the president. If you are in doubt, get it written 
out for you. Shorthand is of much assistance to a 
secretary. Do not, however, needlessly delay the 
meeting to obtain the exact wording of unimportant 
resolutions, but only of those where the identical 
wording is likely to come in question later. 

Often, moreover, it is well for the secretary to 
record the motions that fail to pass, since frequently 
refusal to take action is of much significance. In 
general, all important business, whether positive 
or negative in its nature, should be recorded. I 
myself like the custom of recording also the names 
of all makers of motions, as I believe that this little 
piece of recognition tends to increase the interest of 
the members in the society business. 

Do not take notes carelessly. In the course of the 
business meeting a secretary is often called upon 
to state just wliat motion has been passed at an ear- 
lier part of the meeting, and should be ready to turn 
at once to the motion and read it exactly. Learn 
to write out the minutes during the discussions. 

Do not put off transcribing the notes you have 
taken, but T\Tite them at once before they get 
** cold." The work will be far easier and more ac- 
curate if it is done promptly. Do not let your min- 
utes be wordy ; a brisk, business-like style shown 
in the minutes read at the opening of the business 
meeting seems always to add to the briskness of the 
meeting. Have regard also to the literary quality 
of your records. Get rid of awkward expressions. 
Seek for neat turns of words. They must be accu- 
rate, of course ; but if to your accuracy you add 



64 • THE officers' handbook. 

earnestness, your minutes will uplift the society ; 
and if to your earnestness you add a bit of spice, you 
will win and hold attention, without which no 
amount of earnestness produces much result. I 
propose, then, three " f 's " for your minutes : fact, 
fun, and force. 

Do not mind it if your minutes are criticised when 
the president calls for corrections, but receive the 
emendations with Christian humility. Never copy 
the minutes into the record book until they have 
been approved. 

Become familiar with the minutes of former 
years, since there is no knowing when some mem- 
ber of the society may wish for information in tlie 
business meetings, or elsewhere, on what the society 
has already done in regard to almost any subject. 
Take tlie book with you to all meetings of the so- 
ciety, and also the book containing the membersliip 
roll. You will often find occasion to use both. 

It is your duty, unless there is a society librar^^ 
to i^reserve carefully the old record books of the 
society. These volumes, you must not forget, con- 
tain all the society history there is. Some secre- 
taries do a useful and pleasant thing for the society 
by getting up a card catalogue of society members, 
old and new, each card containing a condensed his- 
tory of the member — his birthplace, the date when 
he joined the society, his full address, and the like. 
When members graduate, or move away, the secre- 
tary still keeps track of them, and adds the chief 
facts that come to her knowledge, such as their 
marriage or entrance upon some important under- 



THE OFFICERS^ HAK^DBOOK. 65 

taking. In future years such a card catalogue is 
invaluable for reference. 

It is the secretary's duty— again in case there is 
no society library — to receive and preserve all the 
committee reports. To this end they should be 
written on uniform paper, which the society might 
well furnish, and the reports of one year should be 
bound together, unless you prefer to place in patent 
" binders " the reports of the several committees by 
themselves, so that each committee can at any time 
examine the history of all work along its line done 
in the society during the past years. If you follow 
this excellent plan, the secretary should still have 
the custody of the reports, but she should hand each 
file to the proper committee early in the term, so 
that the chairman may read it through. 

If the president and the society do not insist upon 
written reports, nevertheless the secretary should 
insist, and she should urge their value and neces- 
sity until this most beneficial custom has become 
established. 

The secretary's own report at the business meeting 
should be a general review of the month's work — a 
sort of condensation of her executive committee 
minutes. For the secretary should always attend 
the executive committee meetings, and should act 
as the committee's secretary, keeping its minutes 
as carefully as those of the society itself, since the 
executive committee is more of a deliberative body 
than the society. In addition, of course, she should 
feel free to make suggestions at any time, and, 
indeed, to take as full part in the executive com- 
5 



66 THE OFFICEES' HANDBOOK. 

mittee meetings as any of the committee chair- 
men. 

Another very important duty of the secretary is 
the calling of the roll at the consecration meeting, 
though a few societies assign this task to the leader 
for the evening, and a few give it to the president. 
Much of the success of this meeting depends upon 
the way in which the roll is called. A poky secre- 
tary, with a low, mumbling voice, can spoil the 
effect of the best consecration service, while a secre- 
tary with a clear, loud voice, brisk, business-like, 
and happy, infuses life into the meeting with every 
name she calls. She should sit in front, facing the 
society, so that she can see who is present, and not 
linger over the names of the absent except long 
enough to permit the reading of a message if any 
has been sent. If the leader does not interrupt the 
roll-call at intervals by announcing a h3nnn, the 
secretary should do that herself. When she comes 
to her own name, she should read it, and follow it 
with her own testimony. It is better, in my judg- 
ment, ahvays to say "Mr." and "Miss" with the 
names. 

There are different ways of calling the roll, and 
the use of variety in this exercise will free the con- 
secration service from any danger of monotony. 
The leader may arrange for the variation, but if he 
does not, the secretary has a perfect right to do so. 
Try calling the names in the reverse order, begin- 
ning at tlie end of tlie alphabet. Again, call the let- 
ters of the alphabet, "A " first, wliereupon all whose 
names begin with A will take part, the secretary 



THE officers' HANDBOOK. 67 

noting who speaks ; then B, and so on. Try placing 
upon a blackboard the list of members, who will 
speak without any roll-call at all, the secretary mak- 
ing the record silently. Try calling the names in a 
hit-or-miss way, so that no member will know when 
he is to be called upon. Sometimes call the names 
of the committees, and as each committee is called, 
its members will rise and speak in the order in 
which they stand, its chairman closing with a prayer 
for the committee. Try a "voluntary" consecra- 
tion meeting, the first j)art of the evening being 
given up to voluntary participation, at the close of 
which the roll is called, those that have already 
spoken responding merely with "present." There 
are many other ways of varying the consecration 
meetings, and for a full account of them I must 
refer secretaries to my pamphlet on the consecra- 
tion meeting, " Our Crowning Meeting," which is 
published iby the United Society of Christian En- 
deavor (ten cents) . 

The membership roll of the society should be kept 
by the secretary in a book by itself, at the opening 
of which is the constitution. There should be sep- 
arate sections of the book for the active, associate, 
and honorary members. It is the secretary 's business 
to see that each newly elected member signs the con- 
stitution, and also that he signs a copy of the pledge, 
which he retains to be put in some place where 
it will serve as a constant reminder of his vows. It 
is very necessary that the membership lists should 
be kept accurately and up to date. The secretary 
should never add or remove a name w^ithout proper 



68 THE officers' handbook. 

authority, — namely, that of the lookout committee. 
It is not within the province of tlie secretary to 
transfer a member at his request to the much-abused 
"absent members' list." No change whatever 
should be made in the list without the vote of the 
lookout committee and the pastor. 

Only two points more, and the secretary's work 
will have been outlined. He should notify all com- 
mittees of their appointment, and all officers of their 
election, and this notification should be in writing. 
He ranks next to the president and the vice-presi- 
dent, and will be the prop^- presiding officer in case 
neither of these others is present. In that case, the 
secretary calls the meeting to order, asks that a 
chairman of the meeting be nominated, puts the 
vote, and then returns to the secretary's desk, leav- 
ing the president's chair to the temporary substitute. 



THE OPFICEKS' HANDBOOK. 69 



CHAPTER X, 

THE CORRESPONDING SECRETARY'S WORK. 

The corresponding secretary is unique among 
Christian Endeavor officers in that his office is per- 
manent. With the officers changing every year, 
and in many societies twice a year, a permanent 
secretary is a necessity in order that the United 
Society and the State and local unions may keep in 
touch with the local societies. These could not re- 
cast their lists continually to insert the names of 
newly chosen officers, nor is it likely that the new 
officers would often be reported to headquarters. 

Just because of his permanency, however, the 
corresponding secretary is more likely than any 
other officer to beqome " dead wood," to lose his in- 
terest and fail to do his duty. Then we have con- 
fusion indeed. Then the United Society and the 
State and local union find it impossible to gather 
the most important statistics. Then the most im- 
portant communications — communications abso- 
lutely necessary for the success of the movement at 
large and the inspiration of the society's work — fail 
to get further than the corresponding secretary's 
overcoat pocket. Then, the link being broken, the 
society is cut off from its connection with the rest 
of the Christian Endeavor world. 

So let it be distinctly understood that the corre- 



70 THE officers' HANDBOOK. 

spending secretary is a permanent officer only so 
long as he takes active interest in the society and 
does his work faithfully. It is not hard work, and 
it is little to ask of him ; he is inexcusable if he 
does not keep it up, and has no right to feel hurt if 
he is quietly dropped and another Endeavorer put in 
his place. To facilitate such a change, when it is 
necessary, always nominate and elect the corre- 
sponding secretary with the rest of the officers, 
though the same person is chosen term after term. 
When a new corresponding secretary is elected, be 
sure to send his name to the General Secretary of 
the United Society, and to the secretaries of your 
State, county or district, and city unions. 

As already indicated, the corresponding secre- 
tary's main duty is simply to receive and pass along 
whatever communications may be sent to tJie soci- 
ety. It is not his business to sift them, but to hand 
them all to the president or the recording secretary 
of the societ}^ for presentational the executive com- 
mittee meeting, or for direct presentation to the 
society, as the case may be. There are, however, 
certain documents with wliich the society should 
have nothing to do, and as the corresponding sec- 
retary is likely to be more experienced than any 
other officer, in passing these along he should give 
his judgment upon them, and advise that no atten- 
tion be paid to them. For instance, letters will 
come from persons who wish to enlist the Endeavor- 
ers in various enterprises tliat are entirely outside 
of legitimate Christian Endeavor work. These usu- 
ally call for money, that should be given to the 



THE OFFICERS^ HAIN'DBOOK. 71 

church and deiioniination with which the society 
is connected. Some struggling church ovit West may 
be trying to pay off its debt, and "ten cents from 
every Christian Endeavor society" will do it, oh, 
so easily ! (I should think it would !) Or some en- 
thusiast may take it into his head that all the young- 
people of the State should support a Christian En- 
deavor missionary, and send out circulars for that 
purpose, quite oblivious of the fact that Christian 
Endeavor belongs to many denominations, while the 
missionary of necessity would belong to only one. 
Such wild schemes are proposed to every church or- 
ganization ; there is not a pastor who has not his 
pocket full of such letters all the time. When they 
come to the corresponding secretary, it is his busi- 
ness to see that they are not acted on. The United 
Society of Christian Endeavor will send once a year 
a request for statistics. It never asks for money, 
nor receives a cent of contributions from any soci- 
ety. It is supported entirely by its publication de- 
partment and by the Christian Endeavor organ, 
The Christian Endeavor World. The officers of 
your State and city Christian Endeavor union will 
send occasional communications suggesting ways of 
working, seeking to inspire you to better activities, 
advertising tlie State convention and the local-union 
meetings, and perhaps calling for a dollar or two — 
never for more — in support of the interdenomina- 
tional work of Christian Endeavor. These commu- 
nications should be passed promptly to the proper 
officer — usually the president. You will often re- 
ceive word from your denominational authorities, 



72 THE officers' ha:n'dbook. 

and especially the missionary boards and the de- 
nominational periodicals. These circulars will be 
given all possible attention. As each is received, 
say to yourself, ' ' The King's business requireth 
haste." In fine, whatever bears upon it the legiti- 
mate Christian Endeavor or denominational stamp, 
you are to send at once along the channel of useful- 
ness. If at any time you are in doubt as to the dis- 
position of part of your mail, carry it at once to 
your pastor, or ask the president to do so. He has 
the right to say what subjects and appeals should be 
brought before his Cliristian Endeavor society. 

It is best for the corresponding secretary to make 
it a rule never to reply to letters received, unless defi- 
nitely instructed to do so by the executive commit- 
tee. Of course, a mere call for statistics from the 
proper source should be answered without troubling 
the executive committee with it. The correspond- 
ing secretary w411 need here the help of the record- 
ing secretary. But he should answer no letters from 
unauthorized persons — those, for instance, that w4sh 
the names of the Endeavorers for advertising pur- 
poses. 

It will often be the duty of the corresponding sec- 
retary to present to the society, when directed to do 
so by the president, the contents of circulars and 
letters that he has received. It may be, for instance, 
an appeal for money made by the home missionary 
board of your denomination. Don't be satisfied with 
a dry and lifeless reading of the circular. Remem- 
ber : you are, for the time being, the proxy of that 
great missionary societ}^ Study the matter, become 



THE officers' HANDBOOK. 73 

filled with facts, make the appeal in your own words 
and as if you were a lawyer addressing a jury in a 
case where life is at stake. 

Finally, it is often the duty of the corresponding 
secretary to correspond, himself, as well as receive 
the correspondence of others. If a member of the 
society is moving to another town, and wishes a let- 
ter of introduction to the society there, it is his duty 
to give it, on direction of the executive committee. 
If, as sometimes happens — not so often, however, as 
might be to advantage — there comes from some dis- 
tant society a request for an interchange of methods 
along some line of Christian Endeavor work, he is 
the one who should reply, and his letter should be 
crammed with practical helpfulness and cordial 
Christian brotherliness. It is a genuine missionary 
service to write such letters, and correspondence of 
this character, inspiring and fruitful in the highest 
degree, might well be initiated by any correspond- 
ing secretary. 

But there is a vv'ork akin to this that is even more 
important, and that is sending items of interest to 
the international Christian Endeavor organ. The 
Christian Endeavor World, and to the jDapers of 
your own denomination. The editors of these pa- 
pers are always eager for such items, provided — and 
this is an important i/— they are of general interest 
and importance. A list of your new officers is of no 
importance to the outside world. Even a notice of 
that noble young woman who has just died and left 
your society desolate would not interest other so- 
cieties, unless there is some striking and unusual 



74 THE officers' handbook. 

fact to tell, since this is, alas ! so common an occur- 
rence. But if you have originated some new plan 
of work or if in some fresh way you have carried 
out some old plan, if to some notable degree God's 
Spirit has been working in your midst, leading young 
hearts to Himself, if you are doing large things for 
the mission boards, if you have held a unique social, 
if you are helping your pastor in some novel way — 
if, in short, any of your endeavors will, in your 
opinion, be worth the attention of the larger world, 
then it is more than your privilege, it is your duty, 
to pass it on. Tliat is one of the reasons why you 
belong to an interdenominational movement — be- 
cause you believe in the widest possible helpfulness. 
Don't tell your story at great length. Leave out the 
proper names. Give the essentials, and omit the 
non-essentials. When you have written a page, 
write it once more in half a page, and then don't be 
grieved if the unfeeling editor cuts it down to two 
sentences. Eemember, there are other societies, and 
other corresponding secretaries, and other Endeavor- 
ers, who also are doing things. 



THE officers' HANDBOOK. 75 



CHAPTER XI. 

THE TREASURER'S WORK. 

It is no unimportant business to be set over the 
King's treasury, even a smaU branch oi it. Our 
Christian Endeavor treasurers, if they will magnify 
their office, may have much to do in training up a 
generation of generous, systematic givers. The lit- 
tle sums they will receive are tJierefore more than 
they seem ; they are earnests of far greater sums the 
church will receive in the coming years as the result 
of this faithful service. 

The Christian Endeavor treasurer, then.sliould be 
an enthusiast in the finances of the kingdom. He 
should be a young "Napoleon of finance" for the 
kingdom of heaven. He should not be afraid to talk 
dollars, or ashamed to ask for money in a good 
cause. He should be a good giver himself, that he 
may ask with a good countenance. He should be 
patient, energetic, orderly, prompt, faithful. These 
are the exemplary treasurer's qualities. 

The treasurer's labors resolve themselves into 
three parts : getting the money, recording it, and 
paying it out. 

The first part is the most important and difficult. 
The only plan for raising money that I can recom- 
mend is the pledge-envelope system. At the open- 



76 THE OFFICEKS' HANDBOOK. 

ing of the society year, the treasurer presents to 
each Endeavorer a card headed : 

" For the expenses of the Christian Endeavor so- 
ciety, and for its gifts to missions, I promise to pay 
this year, monthly, the sum that is checked below. 
This pledge may be withdrawn by notice to the 
treasurer. 

1 cent 

2 cents 

3 cents 

4 cents 

5 cents 

10 cents 

25 cents 

50 cents 

(Date) (Signature) 

Some societies will prefer to put more figures in 
the list between five and twenty-five. These cards 
may be worked off on a manifolding machine, or 
they may be purchased from the United Society of 
Christian Endeavor. Just before they are given out 
to tlie members, the treasurer should say a word to 
the society, emphasizing the facts that small gifts 
become big ones if many are added together, that 
it is especially necessary for the society to train its 
members in giving, tliat every member should con- 
tribute something, no matter how little, that no one 
but the treasurer will know how much each person 
contributes, and that, while no one should stop short 
of the largest gift he can rightfully make, yet all 
should remember that what God wants is the spirit 
of giving, and that He was as well pleased with 



THE officers' HANDBOOK. 77 

the widow's mite as with any gift ever made by a 
millionaire. 

It is well to announce at this time for just what 
purposes the money received is to be used. Make 
this plain, because no one likes to give without 
knowing for what he is giving. The executive 
committee should consider the matter with care, 
and present a plan to the society for adoption. Of 
course, unless you have a more distinct idea of what 
will be contributed than most societies have, you 
can deal only in proportions, not in amounts. You 
might propose to the society, for instance, that of 
the sums received each month one-fourth be set 
aside for society expenses, and three-fourths for 
missions. Unless the church needs some of tlie 
money, the latter fund should be divided equally — 
three-eighths to home, and three-eighths to foreign, 
missions. I believe, too, that it is most advantageous 
to fix upon the objects of your gifts as early in the 
year as possible — just what boards, and missions, 
and schools, and persons you will give to, if your 
boards permit such definite giving. Of course, you 
should leave some lee-way for unexpected calls to 
which you may want to respond, but you will miss 
many noble opportunities of interesting the society 
in missions, if you do not know through the year 
pretty definitely where your money is going. 

As the pledge cards come in, give to each En- 
deavorer a bundle of twelve little envelopes, to be 
obtained from the United Societ}^ of Christian En- 
deavor. These envelopes will bear upon them the 
names of the months of the year, and also a number 



78 THE officers' handbook. 

by which the Endeavorer is known upon the treas- 
urer's books, and by which his gift is identified in 
the collection when it is received. 

The monthly offerings should be made at the 
consecration meeting. That is the appropriate time, 
since it is the consecration of your money as well as 
the rest of yourself and your belongings that is to 
be emphasized. It should come at the beginning of 
the consecration meeting, and might well be pre- 
ceded by a brief prayer. The president or the 
leader will make the announcement and appoint 
members to "take up tlie collection," or this duty 
may be imposed upon the treasurer. 

The record of each member, according to this 
system, should be kept separately, but the whole is 
very quickly done if you have a large sheet of paper 
bearing' a vertical list of the names, and after each 
name twelve spaces. The names are numbered, and 
as each enveloi3e is opened its contents is noted in 
the proper place opposite the name bearing its num- 
ber. I believe that a treasurer should receipt for 
everything, if he would get the best results in the 
way of giving, and so I should even receipt for each 
of these monthly gifts. Let it be understood that 
the return of the envelope, bearing the giver's name 
in the treasurer's handwriting, constitutes the re- 
ceipt for each month. 

Emphasize the importance of giving these sums, 
though they are small, every month, rather than 
wait and let them accumulate. Never hesitate to 
inform delinquents that they are behindhand. Not 
every month, possibly, but still frequently, it is best 



THE officers' handbook. 79 

for the treasurer to report to the society, in general 
terms, how the society finances stand, and how 
many pledges remain unpaid. 

This bu.siness-like plan is far superior to a collec- 
tion taken spasmodically. It is infinitely superior 
to the plan of raising money by " pay socials." It is 
sometimes wise to add to your missionary fund, or 
raise money for special i^urposes, by such means as 
a lecture course or a concert ; but such entertain- 
ments should never be the main dependence. The 
only way to give is — to give ! 

I thoroughly believe, however, in special collec- 
tions. They are a sort of "free-will offerings" of 
the kind so widely used in the old Jewish days. An 
especially helpful custom is the "self-denial week" 
preceding the annual celebration of Christian En- 
deavor Day, resulting in a grand " thank-offering" 
on our anniversary. This thank-offering is almost 
always distributed equally between home and 
foreign missions. 

Some societies have found it a good plan to stimu- 
late sluggish giving by taking a collection at every 
meeting, not pledging the members as to the 
amounts, but earnestly asking that each member 
shall bring something, however small the amount, 
every iveeh. 

It is a part of the treasurer's duties to promote 
more generous giving, — of course in conjunction 
each time with other officers and committees, if the 
enterprise lies in the line of their work. An occa- 
sional diagram may be devised, to be hung on the 
wall. For instance, he may draw cubes represent- 



80 THE OPFICEKS^ HANDBOOK. 

ing by their relative sizes the payments of the 
average Christian for missions, for clothes, for food, 
for soda-water, and the like. The Tenth Legion — 
our Christian Endeavor organization for tithe-givers, 
and the Macedonian Phalanx — the Christian En- 
deavor movement to promote giving to definite mis- 
sionary objects, may be pushed by no Endeavorer so 
appropriately as the treasurer. Material for adver- 
tising these movements may be obtained from the 
United Society of Christian Endeavor. 

The treasurer's account-book should be neatly 
kept. It is especially necessary, if he would not get 
into a muddle, that every receipt and expenditure 
be recorded immediately. He should give a receipt 
for everything, using a regular printed receipt book, 
or printing blanks upon a manifolder : 

(Place and date) 

Received from ... , dollars 

and cents for 

On behalf of the Christian Endeavor Society, 

, Treasurer. 

He should be equally j)articular in requiring vouch- 
ers for every cent he gives out — from committee 
chairmen, speakers, mission boards, and every one. 
A regular printed receipt book may be bought for a 
little, or vouchers may be printed on the society mani- 
folder : 

(Place and date) 

Received from , Treasurer of the 

Christian Endeavor Society, dollars and 

cents, for 

(Signature) 

(Official position) 



THE officers' HANDBOOK. 81 

If the pledge system is used, as I have described 
it, the treasurer will open up an account with each 
member of tlie society, though for simplicity's sake 
this pledge account may be condensed upon a very 
few pages. There should also be separate page ac- 
counts with each committee that draws money from 
the treasury, w4th home and foreign missions, and 
the like. Head the left-hand page ''Dr." and tlie 
right-hand page "Cr.," writing in the center the 
person or cause or committee with w^hom you are 
accounting. The full form would be, "I, the treas- 
urer (understood) am debtor to — (the social commit- 
tee, say) , in the following appro j)riation made for the 
use of that committee by the society, and creditor 
by the following sums paid to the chairman of that 
committee." Precede the items on the debit side 
by the preposition " to," and on the credit side by 
the preposition "by." 

A simpler form of accoulit w^ll record on the debit 
side of the ledger whatever sums have been received, 
with the date in each case and the source, and on 
the credit side w^hatever sums have been paid out, 
with the date and the object or person receiving 
them. 

No money should be paid out for any purpose 
without express authorization from the executive 
committee or vote of the society. In some societies 
it is required tliat the secretary write an order upon 
the treasurer for each sum so voted, tlie treasurer 
keeping that order as his authorization for tlie ex- 
penditure ; but usually that is an unnecessary form 
in a Christian Endeavor society, since the treasurer 
6 



82 THE OFFICEKS' HAKDBOOK. 

will be in attendance always upon the meetings of 
the executive committee and the business meetings 
of the society. Payments to the missionary boards 
should always be sent to the treasurers of those 
boards, and they may be sent direct or through the 
church treasurer, according to the preference of the 
church. When the church treasurer sends them, he 
should give a receipt to the Christian Endeavor 
treasurer ; and in either case, when the gift is sent, 
the mission board should be asked to note that the 
money comes from the Christian Endeavor society. 
Most boards keep a special record of the gifts from 
Christian Endeavor societies, just as they keep a 
special record of the gifts from Sunday schools. 

The treasurer's report should be given at each 
business meeting, that the society may always know 
just how it stands financially. How much detail is 
to be introduced depends on tlie need of the society 
and on the amount and complexity of the society's 
business. It is profitless, for instance, to tell what 
the social committee paid out for lemonade, but it 
may be useful for the society to know how much 
their topic cards cost, and all gifts to missions should 
be given with full particulars. Figures may easily 
be made very dry, or, with the exercise of some 
pains and ingenuity, they may be made very inter- 
esting. If the treasurer is bright, his report may be 
one of the best and most inspiring features of the 
business meeting. Put it as little as possible in tab- 
ular form, and as much as possible in narrative 
form. Mass the details so that they may readily 
be grasped, and print the more significant facts 



THE officers' HANDBOOK. 83 

upon a blackboard or a large sheet of paper, that the 
impetus of generous giving may enter through Eye- 
gate as well as Ear-gate. Be as enterprising as an 
advertising agent, — I can give no more emphatic 
comparison, — for is it not the King's business that 
you are promoting ? 



84 THE OFflCEPiS' HAXDBOOK. 



CHAPTER Xn. 

THE organist's WORK. 

When it is remembered how much of the bright- 
ness and attractiveness of our prayer meetings come 
from the singing, and how far the singing is influ- 
enced by a good accompanist, or the reverse, it will 
be seen wliy I consider the organist one of the most 
important of Christian Endeavor officers. A large 
part of the success of every prayer meeting depends 
on her. If she enters into her work with enthusi- 
asm and skill, and with the higher motive of desire 
to further Christ's cause, and not the low motive of 
love for music, or the still lower motive, the wish to 
show off. then the members will be likely to '' sing 
with grace in their hearts unto tlie Lord." Such 
singing will render every member more zealous in 
his Christian endeavors, and, best of all, souls will 
be won by it for the kingdom of God. 

In some societies the music committee chooses the 
organist : in others, this officer is elected with the 
others. I prefer the latter method, provided you are 
careful to pass the work around in turn to all that 
can do it well. Now and then put a beginner in 
this place, remembering that our society is to be 
first and always a training school for service. 
In mv own societv we had at one time no fewer 



THE officers' HANDBOOK. 85 

than six organists, each serving for a month at a 
time. 

It is especially necessary that you organists 
should be promptly in your place at the beginning 
of the meeting, as soon as the leader has taken the 
chair. Have the book open before you. Most meet- 
ings begin with a song, so that you, even more than 
the leader, give the meeting its initial impetus upon 
which so much depends. 

Find the page quickly, and be sure you get the 
right one. If you are in doubt what hymn is called 
for at any time during the meeting, do not hesitate 
to ask, rather than guess at it. Remember, if you 
failed to hear, doubtless the others are in the same 
predicament. If at any time you hear the number 
yourself, but judge that others may not have heard, 
repeat it in a distinct voice. 

Notice carefully what verses are to be omitted in 
singing. How often have we seen a careless organist 
start out confidently on another verse after the last 
stanza had already been sung, play a few measures, 
and then stop in confusion amid the titters of the 
irreverent ! That is always a hurt to the meet- 
ing. 

If you perceive that the society has become con- 
fused, and that half of them are singing the wrong 
verse, do not hesitate at the beginning of the next 
stanza to call its number clearly. Whether you will 
do such things, or not, will depend of course upon 
whether there is in the chair a leader who will do 
them. 

Unless the song is one quite unknown to the 



86 THE officers' handbook. 

society, do not play it all through as a prelude. This 
custom is a great nuisance in many societies, and 
constitutes more of a drag than is commonly real- 
ized. A few measures will be sufficient, just to be 
certain that every one has found the place ; then 
sound the key-note and enter at once upon the 
song. 

The same remarks apply even more emphatically 
to interludes. In most cases they are mere imperti- 
nences, and serve only to impede the swing of the 
music, and make a needless break in our appreci- 
ation of the thoughts of the hymn. If the hymn is 
a long one, a very brief interlude toward the' close 
may be needed in order to get breath ; but for a 
hymn of the ordinary length it is quite unnecessary. 
Make a slight pause after each stanza, then strike 
the key-note firmly, and begin at once with decision 
the next verse. 

Do not leave the organ during the meeting, unless 
sitting on a stool without a back is ver}' wearisome. 
The time occupied in taking your place is lost to the 
meeting, and your moving about makes always more 
or less of a disturbance. Hold yourself in instant 
readiness for any musical demand. 

Sing, if 3^ou can, and as strongly as possible. You 
are the natural leader of the music, by voice as well 
as with the instrument. And you will do the societv 
an especial benefit if now and tlien you start up 
some appropriate hj^mn without announcement of 
any kind. Of course tlie hj^mn should be sufficiently 
familiar for the Endeavorers to join you without 
having recourse to their books, and this feature will 



THE officers' HANDBOOK. 87 

add much to the vivacity and interest of the 
meeting. 

For this pui'iDOse, and for many other purposes, it 
will be a great advantage to you if you will commit 
tunes to memory — as many of the common tunes as 
possible. That will give you facility in playing, 
enable you to exchange a poor tune for a good one 
when certain words are desired, conduct "sings" 
where books are not available, and in many other 
ways make yourself a musical blessing. 

Of course, whether you commit the tunes to 
memory or not, you will become familiar with them 
all, so that no one can catch you by calling for a 
tune you cannot readily play. That the society also 
may have this familiarity, you will' do a good deed 
if you organize little meetings for practice of the 
less known hymns, holding the gatherings at your 
own house. 

Such work should be done by the music committee, 
if you have one ; and if you have none, you are the 
fit person to see that this useful committee is added 
to your society's complement of tools. And, by the 
way, you will find in my manual for music com- 
mittees, " Christian Endeavor Grace-Notes," pub- 
lished by the United Society of Christian Endeavor 
(10 cents), a large number of plans and suggestions 
that will aid you in your work. 

Note the character of each piece before you play 
it, and try to make your playing harmonize with the 
sentiment. Do not rattle off " Nearer, my God, to 
Thee "as if it were "Captain Jinks," nor prolong 



88 THE OFFICERS HA^'DBOOK. 

"Onward, Cliristian soldiers" as if it were *' Poor 
old Pidy, she died last Friday/' 

It is unnecessary^ of course, to say, ^* Don't drag." 
No organist ever did drag knowingly, though I havo 
suffered under organists that were so sure they were 
not dragging that they paid no heed to their audi- 
ence, and came out half a mile behind. 

It is far more necessary to say, in writing for 
young musicians especially, "Don't race ahead." 
You may be conscious tliat the society are dragging 
fearfully, -but hammering angrily on the instrument 
is no way to bring them to time ; it only advertises 
your temper. If you find that, on your keeping just 
a trifle ahead of the members, they do not take the 
hint and catch up, speak a word about it in public, 
or, better, talk the matter over in private with the 
leading singers. 

Do not convert the prayer meeting into a singing 
school. It is never wise to stop a hymn in order to 
tell how it should be sung. Do not give folks the 
impression that you mind a false note more than a 
false spirit. 

A knowledge of harmony, and the ability to 
change the key so as bring the music more easily 
within the range of the members' voices, will help 
you greatly in your work, though of course it is not 
at all essential. 

Do not let your position as organist excuse you 
from testifying in every meeting. The very con- 
spicuousness of your post makes it necessary for you 
to testify for the sake of the example, if for no other 
reason. 



THE officers' HAISTDBOOK. 89 

And put religion into all your musical work. Get 
in touch with the Master, if you want a beautiful 
" touch " on your instrument. Get a love for this 
noble task and an enthusiasm for it, and believe in 
it with all your soul. In a very rea} way you are 
helping to preach the gospel. 



90 THE officers' HA^'DBOOK. 



. CHAPTER XIII. 
THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. 

You will have a good society if you have good 
executive committee meetings. No other committee 
is so imijortant, because this is the co-ordinating 
and the focusing committee. It sets the society to 
work, and keeps it at work. It discovers flaws, and 
remedies them. It discovers excellencies, and 
praises them. It is the pastor's cabinet among the 
young people, and an hour here once a month will 
enable him to accomplish more than ten times an 
hour spent in any other way. It is also the pres- 
ident's chance at the leaders of the society, and if 
his touch here is firm and sure, he can mold the sor 
ciety to his desire. It is the committees' chance at 
one another, so that whatever aid one committee 
wants from the other members, it will here apply 
for, and whatever suggestion it has for the good of 
the society, it will here bring to a head. If the 
lookout committee are the society's eyes, and tlie 
prayer-meeting committee its heart, the executive 
committee make up its brain, where all nerves 
center, and from which all active impulses properly 
come forth. 

The committee is made up of the chairmen of all 
the committees, together with all the officers. Do 
not forget the vice-president. Sometimes let him 



THE OFFICEKS' HANDBOOK. 91 

preside, even when the president is there. This 
will render him more interested in the meetings of 
the committee, and will train him for an emergency 
and also to become president himself by and by. 
Do not forget the corresponding secretary, either, — 
an officer most necessary to have at the meetings, 
but often left out. The recording secretary should 
be there, of course, and should act as the secretary 
of the committee. The Junior superintendent should 
be present to report for that important branch of the 
work, and receive help from the other Endeavorers. 
I should even have the organist there, once in a 
while at least, and when she is present, make it a 
point to talk over the music of the society. The 
treasurer should never be absent, since questions of 
finance are likely to be involved in all kinds of com- 
mittee work. Certainly the pastor should be present 
whenever this is feasible, and every wide-awake 
pastor will be glad of the privilege. 

The presiding officer, of course, is the president, 
and he will hold the committee to as strict rules of 
procedure as the regular business meeting of the 
society. A committee meeting is so informal in its 
appearance that unless it is held in check with a 
strong hand, it is likely to fritter itself away in 
pleasant but aimless and fruitless chat. 

As to the time for the meeting, once a month is 
often enough, unless for special reasons an extra 
session is needed. The meeting should precede the 
monthly business meeting of the society, because 
one of the chief duties of the executive committee 
is to sift out the business, and discuss it, and put it 



92 THE OFFICEES' HA]S;DB00K. 

in such shape that the society can act u^Don it 
speedily and with little need for any debate, thus 
saving time for the more strictly religious exercises. 
But be sure to hold the meeting three or four days 
before the business meeting, since points may come 
up in the committee meeting that will need several 
days to be put into proper shape for the society. 
Have a regular day of the week for the meeting, and 
vary from it only when you really must. It is a 
great aid to memory to hold committee meetings 
always on the same date. 

For the same reason have, if possible, a regular 
place for the meeting, and a private house is better 
for the purpose — far better — than the cliurch. Let 
it be the same house always, and, if convenient, the 
president's house. 

Begin promptly at the fixed time, though only a 
portion of the committee are present. To wait for 
the late comers will only perpetuate the nuisance of 
their tardiness, whereas if they learn that you will 
begin on time, they will get there on time them- 
selves — possibly. 

Open the meeting with prayer. Sometimes the 
president may offer this prayer, or ask some one else 
to offer it, or call for two or three prayers in succes- 
sion. Thus you will get into the right spirit at the 
very start. 

Call next for the reading of the minutes of the last 
meeting. The secretary should keep these minutes 
as carefully as those of the business meeting, but in 
a separate book. Never omit the reading of the 
minutes, since that will recall to mind what was 



THE OFFICERS^ HA:^DBOOK. 93 



ff 



done at the last meeting, and will remind you of 
many points upon which reports at this meeting 
will be in order. 

Next, the president will ask each chairman in 
turn to report for his line of work. In some socie- 
ties there are read at the executive committee 
meeting the reports that are to be presented to the 
society at the coiming business meeting. They are 
read here in order that the entire committee may 
criticise them, suggesting corrections, omissions, or 
additions ; and the custom is a good one. 

A good committee report contains four elements ; 
it should tell (1) what the committee tried to do, 
and could not do, and why it failed ; (2) what the 
committee succeeded in doing ; (3) what the com- 
mittee wants to do ; (4) what help the committee 
would like from the othermembers in carrying on its 
work. 

Discuss each report before going on to the next. 
The president should be ready to start this discus- 
sion with some suggestive thought. Indeed, it is 
best for the president before coming to tlie execu- 
tive committee meeting to run over in his mind the 
list of committees, and fix on some one matter to 
bring up in connection with each. It may be a plan 
for the future, or a hint of improvement along some 
line, or a word of praise for what has been done — 
something to set the members of the committee to 
talking about that work. 

A model committee will not send its chairman to 
the executive committee meeting without some 
definite, practical plans to propose for its work, or at 



94 THE officers' handbook. 

least some perplexity to present for their solution^ 
As each report is made, bear in mind what was de- 
cided at the last meeting concerning that particular 
kind of work, and see that in some way the success 
or the failure of last month's plans is presented to 
the committee and discussed. Progress is more surely 
gained by sticking to a few points than by proposing 
many plans. As the new suggestions are brought 
up, do not let any one of them pass without nailing 
it by a motion ; put it in concrete form on the 
record book. At the close of the reports, the pres- 
ident will do well to summarize all of these determi- 
nations by way of review, fixing in the minds of the 
committee a sort of programme for the next month's 
work. 

Now and then in the course of these reports, 
when any subject of special importance comes up, 
or when a report is given from any line of wof k in 
which the members are especially interested, stay 
the proceedings until an earnest prayer has been 
offered for just the one committee or just the special 
service. 

Hear next from the ofificers. The treasurer will 
tell how faithfully the members are j)aying up their 
pledges. The corresponding secretary will place be- 
fore the committee whatever communications have 
come from the outside world, and pastor and com- 
mittee will decide whether they will go any farther, 
and what is to be done with them. The secretary 
will state^he result of the last consecration meeting 
roll-call. The Junior superintendent will tell about 
her beautiful work, and will lay before the commit- 



THE OFFICERS^ HANDBOOK. 95 

tee for their advice whatever important plans she 
has for the future. The president will say a few 
words on the general tone of the society and any 
plans ho may have that have not come under the 
committee reports. Finally, the pastor will speak 
for a few minutes on the ways in which the young 
people may be brought closer to Christ and be more 
faitliful in His service. The pastor, of course, has 
been taking part witli the others throughout tlie 
evening, but this is his special opportunity for 
words of helpfulness, of wise suggestion, strong in- 
spiration, and cheering praise. 

Bring the meeting to a prompt close. Do not al- 
low it to " fray out at the edge." When the reports 
have all been made, and if no one has general busi- 
ness to introduce additional to what would naturally 
come under the reports from chairmen and officers, 
ask the pastor to offer prayer, and with that prayer 
close the formal session of the committee. 

I strongly recommend, how^ever, that the mem- 
bers be not permitted to return to their homes at 
this point, but that you draw them still closer to- 
gether with some game or other social entertain- 
ment. Pass around a plate of apples. Adjourn to 
the kitchen and pull molasses candy. A half-hour 
of fun together will not be out of place, but it will 
give your committee a mutual acquaintance that 
will do wonders for their spiritual work. 

Then, when tlie first move is made to go, draw 
the happy band of ICndeavorers together around the 
piano, sing some of the good old hymns of the church, 
repeat the Mizpah benediction, and separate w4th 



96 THE officers' handbook. 

the love of Christ and zeal for His blessed service 
burning brightly in your hearts. 

It onl}^ remains to add that the report of the ex- 
ecutive committee meetings, if made to the society 
at all, should be made by the secretary, and should 
be very brief, taking up only those points that are 
not covered by the reports of the other committees. 



THE officers' hajs^dbook. 97 



CHAPTER XIV. 

THE BUSINESS MEETING. 

It is far better that the monthly business meeting 
should not be held on Sunday in connection with 
the prayer meeting.- This is not because there is 
anything in it that is not appropriate to the Lord's 
Day, but because all the time is needed for the 
prayer meeting, and a good business meeting should 
occupy a full hour by itself. It is coming to be a 
widespread custom, therefore, to hold the business 
meeting in connection with the monthly social, and 
this plan has very much to commend it. One hour 
for the business meeting, followed by one hour for 
the social — this can easily be compassed ; your social 
is given solid worth and dignity, and you have se- 
cured your attendance on the business meeting. 

Another capital way of gaining the same end is to 
hold the business meeting at some private house. 
All will come, for the novelty of it, and out of com- 
pliment to the host or hostess. After the opening 
exercises, the committees will separate and discuss 
their various interests, including the reports soon to 
be presented. Tlie society will next come together 
and listen to those reports, discussing each as it is 
given. Some pleasant general exercises will close 
the evening. 



98 THE officers' handbook. 

Refreshments ? Yes, perhaps ; but let them come 
as a surprise. 

If the business meeting must be held on Sunday, 
make sure of written reports, and' that they shall be 
brief. If any chairman fails to bring a written re- 
port, make it a rule to refuse to hear him, postponing 
his report to the next week's meeting, when he must 
bring it, written. The reason for this requirement 
is that the reports will be better if written, and they 
can then be preserved by the secretary. Besides, a 
written report is a formal affair, and it is not so 
easy to say in black and white, *' Our committee has 
done nothing this month," as it is to rattle it off by 
word of mouth. 

What is a good committee report ? It will tell 
four things : what the committee planned to do ; 
what it succeeded in doing ; what it wants to do 
during the next month ; and how the society can 
help it. A good report will have much earnest 
thought in it, and it ^'ill not be without a spice of 
fun. It will be written in the best English the 
writer can command, and with such care as befits 
this very important Christian service. 

Provide time for the discussion of each report, the 
president leading, or getting some member to lead. 
This is the opportunity of the members to present 
what thoughts they may have on the work of the 
society, or to describe work they would like to see 
undertaken. If there is not time thus to discuss all 
the lines of committee work, only a part may be 
taken up at each meeting. Indeed, occasionally it 
may be best to focus the interest of the business 



THE officers' HANDBOOK. 99 

meeting upon a single committee. After the reports 
have all been read, a paper may be presented treat- 
ing the work of tliat committee, and this may be 
followed by an open parliament on the same. When- 
ever the society is about to launch out on some im- 
portant enterprise, as, for instance, the purchase of 
a society library, or the adoption of the envelope 
pledge system of giving to missions, devote in this 
way one business meeting to the new departure. 

Intersperse among the reports a few songs, choos- 
ing in each case a hymn appropriate to the work of 
the committee that has just spoken. Also now and 
then have a prayer, or a series of sentence prayers, 
whenever a committee report is especially earnest 
or treats of particularly important work. 

The great secret of a successful business meeting 
is to obtain for it some fresh interest, some remem- 
berable and advertisable (to coin a word) point. 
And then advertise it. Name the meeting : " A For- 
ward-March Meeting " (to advocate the starting of 
amission Sunday school, perhaps); " A ' Feed-My- 
Lambs ' Meeting " (to discuss the condition of the 
Junior society); " A Next-Step Meeting " (in the in- 
terest of the lookout committee, who are anxious 
to bring the associates into active membership, and 
to get some of the active members to do better 
prayer-meeting work); "A Good-Samaritan Meet- 
ing " (which will propose some novel v»'ork in the 
hospitals). Get out attractive "dodgers" to call 
attention to this business meeting. And, by-the-way, 
does your society own a hectograph, or, still better, 
could it not well afford a printing press ? Just 

t«rc 



100 THE OFFICERS^ HAN^DBOOK. 

think how much it might do for the church if it had 
a little printing press at its command ! 

One striking feature is enough to call attention to 
tlie business meeting. It might be a union business 
meeting with the Juniors. It might be the reading 
of a society paper, which, with the interjection of a 
little fun, will chiefly treat in a serious way the 
work of the society. It might be some special 
music. It might be a question-box on society prob- 
lems or general religious matters. It might be an 
answer -box, some important query being pro- 
pounded, and each Endeavorer writing a reply. 
These replies will be anonymous, and will all be read 
by one person, or by a few. A good question would 
be : " What are some Avays in which our society 
work might be bettered ? " On another occasion 
some brigiit speaker may be obtained from outside 
the town", and may close the meeting with a twenty- 
minute talk. Or some good writer among the En- 
deavorers may read a practical essay on some such 
topic as " Our Reasonable Excuses." Or there may 
be an open parliament, led by your brightest member, 
on some such theme as: " How can w^e have better 
meetings?" " How get the most out of our daily 
Bible-reading?" " What suggestions have 3^ou for 
some committee not your own?" "What are the 
gains from the pledge ? " 

It is a very good plan to open the business meeting 
in such a way as to show at once that no ordinary 
lyieeting is to be held. Arrange the chairs in a 
circle, with the president in the center. Or, open 
with a song by some committee, the words having 



THE officers' HA]SrDBOOK. 101 

reference to that committee's work. Or, open with a 
recitation, with an application to Christian Endeavor 
work. 

A proper order — if you want a regular order — 
would be : Opening prayer. Reading of the last 
minutes, and approval. Unfinished business, if any. 
Committee reports, with discussion, if any. New 
business. Special order. Closing prayer and ad- 
journment. The president will keep the meeting 
sharply to time, and there is no better way of doing 
this than by arranging beforehand for some Endeav- 
orer to bring up each important point and be ready 
to present the subject and make a motion. Do not, 
however, allow the meeting to be too cut-and-dried 
to provide space for business unplanned for, since 
sometimes the most valuable suggestions come in 
this way. 

Do not be satisfied if only a few make the motions. 
Hold before the business meeting the same ideal 
that we hold before our prayer meetings, — namely, 
that all shall take part. If the members seem dull 
and do not even vote, or vote in a lackadaisical way, 
stop the meeting short and get them on their feet to 
sing, or have them read a hymn in concert, or (if it 
is not Sunday) make them applaud some sentiment 
— anything to wake them up. 

If, on the other hand, they are a little too wide- 
awake, if some proposition has aroused strong op- 
position, and a bit of temper has been exhibited, 
never forget what " the table " is for, and lay away 
the subject u^Don that secure receptacle until the so- 
ciety comes nearer unanimity. Heated debate should 



102 THE officers' HANDBOOK. 

never be permitted in a Christian Endeavor society. 
At the close of the meeting, a word from the 
president suQiming up the most important pieces 
of business that have been transacted, just to 
refresh the minds of the members, is very helpful, 
and then the meeting should close in some beautiful 
and inspiring way — with a prayer service, or a song 
service, or an earnest word from the pastor. Send 
the members away with the consciousness that it is 
the King's business they have been discussing, and 
that their lives sliould put on something of the 
majesty of their exalted tasks. 



THE OmCElls' HANDBOOK. 103 



CHAPTER XV. 

A SUMMARY OF PARLIAMENTARY LAW FOR 
ENDEAVORERS. 

Our Christian Endeayor business meetings and 
the sessions of the executive committee afford ab- 
solutely no occasion for intricate parliamentary 
practice. The simplest modes of procedure, the 
most ordinary rules of order, will suffice for the 
conduct of our Christian Endeavor affairs. There 
are no warring parties or factions in our assemblies 
for us to hold in check. Our business is right to the 
point, easily expressed, readily understood, promptly 
disposed of. I have never heard even of a Christian 
Endeavor society going into committee of the w^iole. 
We do not move " the previous question." It is 
about as complicated a proceeding as we indulge in, 
if we lay a motion on the table. 

Nevertheless, the forms we do use we want to use 
correctly, and our societies, though they do not and 
should not go far in the science of parliamentary 
law, should go properly as far as they go. The 
King's business must be conducted on the very best 
models. For the guidance, then, of all Christian 
Endeavor officers who may not have access to a full 
parliamentary manual, such as Robert's or Cushing's, 
or who may not wish to spend the time necessary to 
pick from their many pages the few directions they 



104 THE officers' ha:n"dbook. 

need, it seems best to include in this handbook a 
brief summary of all the rules of order likely to be 
needed in presiding over Christian Endeavor business 
meetings. 

*^The Chair/' — The president should always 
refer to himself as " the chair." He sliould not use 
the first person. 

**The Floor/'— To obtain the floor, that is, to 
get tlie right of addressing the society, a member 
should always rise and say, '* Mr. President " (or 
'* Miss President " or " Madam President," according 
as an unmarried or married lady is hi the chair) . He 
should not speak until he is recognized, the president 
announcing his name. If more than one claims the 
floor at the same time, the president should recog- 
nize the one first to speak, unless he has already 
spoken on the question and the other person has 
not. 

"Seconding Motions/'— The president may 
require every motion to be seconded ; but if the 
matter is one of little importance, he may assume a 
second, to save time. If any one objects, however, 
he must require a second. The seconder, strictly 
speaking, should arise and address tlie chair, 
waiting to be recognized. Practically, however, 
neither is required, but " I second the motion," from 
the seat is sufficient. 

Changing a Motion. — After a motion has been 

seconded and stated, the consent of the seconder is 

required, and afterwards the consent of the society, 

before the mover can cliange it in any way. 

Motions in Writing. -AVJi en a motion is long and 



THE officers' HANDBOOK. 105 

hard to carry in mind, the president always has the 
riglit to require the mover to submit it in writing. 
This, however, is a clog on the meeting, and should 
be done only when necessary. 

Stating the Question.— Before he permits any 
debate, the president should state the question, say- 
ing, "It is moved and seconded that ," and 

following this statement with the call, ' ' Are there 
any remarks ? " 

Rise. — Good form requires the presiding officer to 
rise when stating a question or putting it to vote, 
unless the membership is very small. 

Putting the Question.— There are several com- 
mon modes of putting a question to vote. The presi- 
dent may say, " You have heard the question. All in 
favor will please say, * Aye ' ; all opposed, 'No.'" 
Or, "It has been moved and seconded that. . . . 
As many as are in favor of the motion will manifest 
it by raising the hand. Opposed, by the same sign." 
After the result has been announced : " The motion 
is carried," or, " The noes have it." Any member 
may rise and demand a '* division." In that case the 
voters must rise and be counted, and the president 
may appoint two tellers to count for him. The 
chairman may vote, in case of a tie. If his vote 
would make a tie, he may vote, and so defeat the 
motion. 

How TfOng Debatable. — A question is open to de- 
bate even after the affirmative is put, but not after 
the negative is put. 

Casting the Vote of the Society.— When a con- 
stitution requires a vote by ballot, and for any reason 



106 THE OFFICERS* HAXDBOOK. 



the society does not wish to take the time for this, 
some meml3er may move that the secretary cast the 
vote of the society. If the vote is carried, the 
secretary writes his vote upon a piece of paper, and 
announces it. 

**If There Is No Objection.''— The president 
may often permit procedures that are not strictly 
parliamentary, after giving the society an opiwr- 
tunity to object. For instance, after a motion has 
once been stated by the chair, it is unparliamentary 
to change its wording ; but if the society does not ob- 
ject, the motion may be changed by tlie consent of 
the maker and seconder, and thiLs much time may be 
saved. In the same way. the president may settle 
many points without the formality of a motion, say- 
ing, for instance, ** Owing to the lateness of the 
hour, if there is no objection, we will defer to next 
week's meeting the reading of the remaining re- 
ports." Thepresident will take care not to do this so 
often as to seem to be " bossing " the society, and he 
may well confine such suggestions to points upon 
which the society is evidently unanimous, and to 
occasions when the meeting is pressed for time. 

The President's Informal Suggestions.— It is 
allowable also for tlie president of a Christian En- 
deavor society to propose items of businass. or sug- 
gest courses of action, while in the chair, though in 
bodies more strictly parliamentary he would need to 
call his vice-president to the chair and si>eak from 
the floor in order to do this. For instance, if some 
one proposes that the society invite the local union 
to hold its next meeting with them, the president 



^ 



THE officers' haxdbook. 107 

might say that the consent of the church officers is 
necessary, and add, " Will not some one make a 
motion appointing a committee to obtain this con- 
sent to invite the local union, and to arrange all the 
details for the evening of the union meeting ? " 

Presidental Modesty. — Whenever a motion is 
made that has reference to the president in any way, 
tlie maker of tlie motion should put it to vote ; and 
if he does not do so, the president may ask him to. 

Points of Order. — If any member observes, or 
tliinks he observes, any infraction of a rule, he may 
rise and say, witliout waiting to be recognized, 
"Mr. President, I rise to a point of order"; upon 
which he immediately takes his seat. The president 
says, "State your point of order"; whereupon he 
rises, states it, and resumes his seat. The jDresident 
decides the point, and his decision stands unless an 
appeal is taken. If the president does not choose to 
decide the point, he may at once call for a vote, put- 
ting the question, " Is the member in order ? Those 
that so judge ^viil say, ' Aye.' Contrary minded, 
'No.'" 

An Appeal. — If any member objects to a ruling of 
the president, he rises and says, "I appeal from the 
decision of the chair." If this appeal is seconded, 
the president must at once put the question, " Is the 
decision of the chair sustained ? " A tie vote is 
counted favorable to tlie chair. Before putting the 
question, the president may, if he pleases, state the 
grounds for his decision ; but if the appeal refers to 
a matter of parliamentary practice, it is not debatable 
otherwise. 



108 THE officers' ha^-dbook. 

The Previous Question.—"! move the pre- 
vious question," is the proper way to seek a close 
of debate and an immediate vote on the point 
at issue. So far as our simple Christian Endeavor 
practice is concerned, it takes precedence of every 
motion but to lay on the table. Generally a 
two- thirds vote is necessary to close the debate 
in this peremptory way. Practically, in our 
business meetings, when it is evident to a mem- 
ber that the society is ready for a vote, he calls 
out, " Question." If others repeat the call, or even 
if he himself thinks that the society is ready for a 
vote, the president puts the question at once. If, 
however, there is any objection, the stricter rule 
must be enforced. " The previous question " (a very 
misleading term) is put thus : '* Shall the main ques- 
tion be now put ? " 

I/ayingf on the Table. — If a member wishes 
to postpone a subject so that it may be taken uj) at 
a later time, he moves that it be laid on the table, 
and this motion is undebatable. When it is desired 
to consider the matter, the motion is made " to take 
the question from the table." And this motion also 
may not be debated. 

Postponement. — If it is desired to defer the mat- 
ter with less freedom, a motion may be made to post- 
pone to a certain time, in which case only a two- 
thirds vote can take up the question before that 
time ; or to postpone the subject indefinitely, which, 
if carried, makes it impossible to take up the matter 
again during the session. 

Amendments. — If it is desired to change a motion 



THE officers' HANDBOOK. 109 

in any particular, to make additions to it or subtract 
from it, or even to substitute another motion on the 
same subject, it is done by a motion to amend, the 
mover saying, " Mr. President, I move to amend the 

motion before the society by adding " 

or " by striking out the words, . . . ^ "or 

" by inserting the words, before 

" or " by substituting for it the fol- 
lowing motion " The amendment 

may exactly reverse the first motion, or change it 
only slightly. The mover of the motion, with the 
consent of his second, may, if no one objects, accept 
the amendment without a vote. An amendment 
may be amended, but not the amendment of an 
amendment. In voting, the president will first put 
the amendment to the amendment ; then, if that is 
lost, he will put the first amendment ; and if it is 
carried, he will put the first amendment as amended. 
If that is lost, he will put the original motion ; and 
if it is carried, he will put the original motion as 
amended by one or both of the amendments. No 
amendment is allowed in case of a motion to adjourn, 
to lay on the table, to postpone indefinitely, to re- 
consider, or to call for the previous question. 

Reconsidering a Subject.— If any person who 
voted with the prevailing side desires, he may move 
the reconsideration of a subject upon which the so- 
ciety has voted, provided the motion to reconsider is 
made at the meeting when the vote was taken. The 
motion cannot be amended, and maybe debated only 
when the motion to be reconsidered was debatable. 
If carried, it puts the subject back where it was before 



110 THE officers' HANDBOOK. 

the vote upon it was taken. A motion to reconsider, 
therefore, if carried, makes possible more debate on 
the original motion, and requires anew vote upon it. 
No (|uestion can be reconsidered more than once. 

A Motion to Adjourn.— A motion to adjourn 
must be put at once, no matter what subject is under 
discussion ; and it cannot be debated, nor can the 
vote be reconsidered. 

Committees. — Averv common and useful way of 
disposing of a matter upon which further liglit 
should be thrown before tlie society can judge wisely 
concerning it. is to vote ''that the subject be re- 
ferred to a committee." The mover of the motion 
may state of how many the committee is to consist, 
and how they are to be appointed, whether by the 
nomination and election of the society, or, as is more 
customary, by the chair. If the president is to ap- 
point, he may at once state who are to form the com- 
mittee, or lie may take time to consider, if it is an 
important committee, and give its membership later 
in the meeting, or even at another meeting, unless 
the society direct otherwise. The first person 
named upon a committee is its chairman, and must 
call the committee together and see that it is organ- 
ized. Usually he is made the permanent chairman. 
Often the mover of the motion to commit the sub- 
ject is made chairman of the committee, but this is 
a dangerous custom to 'establish, since the maker of 
the motion is not always the best available chair- 
man, and besides, many are prevented from making 
necessary motions by fear of seeming to seek this 
honor. If tlie maker of the motion to commit did 



I 



THE officers' HAISTDBOOK. Ill 

not include in his motion a statement of the number 
of which the committee shall consist, and of how it 
is to be appointed, then, after the subject has been 
committed, the president asks, " Of how many shall 
this committee consist ? " And after the maker of 
the motion or the society has answered, he will then 
ask, *' How shall this committee be appointed?" 
These matters are usually decided informally and 
without a vote. 

The Call of a Committee Meeting.— If the 
chairman of a committee is absent, or will not call a 
meeting, any two members of the committee may 
call it together. 

Committee Reports. —When a committee is 
ready to report, the chairman so states, and a motion 
that the rejoort be received may be made, or the presi- 
dent may call for it without such a motion. The for- 
mal methods of beginning tlie reports, such as, " The 

committee on beg leave to submit the following 

report," and the formal mode of closing a report, 
" All of which is respectfully submitted," may often 
be profitably varied, in our Christian Endeavor re- 
ports, in the interest of sprightliness. After the 
report is read, the committee is discharged tliereby, 
unless it is presented as a partial report. It is not 
customary to vote upon accepting (or " adopting" — 
the two terms have the same force) the report of a 
standing Christian Endeavor committee, though the 
report of any committee, standing or special, should 
be adopted or rejected if it contains a recommenda- 
tion for the society's action. The better way, in the 
case of a standing committee, usually is to receive 



112 THE officers' ha:n"dbook. 

the report and place it on file, and then by a sepa- 
rate motion to vote upon the recommendation it 
contains. If the society pleases, it may refuse to act 
upon the recommendation, and "recommit" the 
subject, in which case the committee just discharged 
by the reception of its report is restored to life 
again. 

Standing and Special Committees. — A stand- 
ing committee is one appointed for some definite 
time ; a " special committee" is one appointed for a 
particular purpose. It would add to the interest of 
our Christian Endeavor business if more occasions 
were found for the appointment of special com- 
mittees. 



THE OFFICEKS HA^^DBOOK. 113 



CHAPTER XVI. 

RECEPTION AND INSTALLATION SERVICES. 

There is little danger that our Christian Endeavor 
officers will become overzealous and conceited ; 
there is enough to keep them humble. There is far 
more danger that they may not ' ' magnify their 
office'- and understand their responsibility. The 
best way of impressing upon them the greatness and 
blessedness of the task they have undertaken is by a 
public installation service. This service is best con- 
ducted in' the society meeting room, and as part of 
the regular prayer meeting, though announcement 
of it should be made beforehand, and the older 
church members should be invited to attend. The 
pastor himself, as will be seen, figures largely in the 
service I suggest, but if the church is temporarily 
without a pastor, some church officer or prominent 
church worker will take his part. 

Service for the Installation of Officers. 

[The pastor and the retiring officers are seated 
together on the platform. The retiring president 
presides, and opens the meeting by calling for three 
hearty Christian Endeavor hymns in swift succes- 
sion. One of the retiring officers, selected by the 
president, then reads our Christian Endeavor work- 
8 



114 THE OFFICERS' HAJSTDBOOK. 

ers' chapter of the Bible, the twelfth of Romans. 
This is followed by a brief prayer by some other 
oflacer chosen by the president, or by the president 
himself. The retiring president, addressing the 
pastor, then speaks to the following effect, though 
he may prefer to use his own words.] 

The President.— At the close of the term of office 
to w^iich we were elected by our Christian En- 
deavor society, we, the officers, now lay down our 
commissions. Doubtless we have made many mis- 
takes. Doubtless we have fallen far short of our 
possible successes. We pray God to forgive us for 
all sins of omission and commission. We lay at His 
feet our imperfect service, asking Him to work out 
from it His own perfect results. 

The Pastor (varying the words, as all the words of 
this exercise may be varied, to suit his pleasure or 
changed circumstances). — Will the officers and com- 
mittee chairmen please rise ? (They rise, remaining 
standing, each w^iere he is.) I praise God, dear 
friends, and this Christian Endeavor society praises 
God, for all your faithful service. Whatever you 
have done for Christ has brought with it, we are 
certain, its abundant and immediate reward. By 
every act of firm fidelity to duty, by every unselfish 
yielding of your will, by every effort you have made 
during your term of office to increase the efficiency 
of this society and draw its members nearer to their 
Saviour, you have yourselves become strengthened 
and ennobled. As you now lay down your official 
responsibilities, we give you our hearty God-speed 
upon the path of endeavor that still lies before you, 



THE officers' HAXDBOOK. 115 

and in token of our appreciation of your work I 
now call upon the entire society to rise and sing one 
stanza of our Christian Endeavor harvest hymn, 
*' Bringing in the Sheaves.'' 

[This is done, and then the retiring officers leave 
the platform, all but the president.] 

Pastor, — Mr. President, you will please present 
the officers-elect. 

[The president reads the list, stating with each 
name the office to be filled. As the several jDersons 
are named, they come forward and stand in a semi- 
circle in front of the pulpit. The retiring president 
then takes his seat in the audience.] 

Pastor. — Endeavorers, the tasks you are now by 
vote of this society to assume are tasks which, 
though simple in their elements, reach out into all 
eternity. They liave to do witli the making of char- 
acter, and there is no more blessed or momentous 
task than the making of character. You have been 
given a great privilege, you have entered a glorious 
opportunity. As you lead these members faithfully 
along the highways of Christian Endeavor, both 
you and they will be strengthened. I exhort you 
not to frust in your own wisdom, but to seek divine 
guidance, for that alone will render you w^orkmen 
that need not to be ashamed. I exhort you not to 
rest satisfied with the present attainments of the 
societ}^ but to make " Excelsior " your motto. This 
society has chosen you to serve them in their high- 
est interests, and I urge you to undertake the task 
in the spirit of Him whose you are and whom you 
ser^e. In token that you will do this, will you not 



116 THE officers' HAXDBOOK. 

repeat after me His own words : ' ' The Son of Man 
came not to be ministered unto, but to minister.'' 

[The officers repeat this in concert.] 

The Pastor. — And now, Mr. President, you will 
please present the newly elected chairmen of com- 
mittees. 

[Tlie new president reads the list, and each chair- 
man, as his name is called, rises and remains stand- 
ing.] 

The Pastor. — There is no branch of our society 
work, Endeavorers, that will not during the coming 
months receive the impulse of your zeal, if you are 
faithful, or the hindrance of your sloth, if you are 
faithless. It is our glad expectation that under 
your wise and vigorous guidance our society is to 
take many advance steps this term. Seek out the 
best methods. Read the most practical books. Con- 
sult the most skilful workers. Take your tasks con- 
stantly to God in prayer. Do not leave the little 
things neglected in your pursuit of some large 
achievement, yet do not so bury yourself in details 
that you forget the wider interests. Eemember 
Paul, and like him resolve to be all things to all 
men, that by all means you may save some one soul. 
And in token of your determination in Christ's 
strength to do your best, I call upon you to repeat 
with me one of Paul's great sayings : " I can do all 
things through Christ who strengtheneth me." 

[The chair i5en repeat this in concert. The pastor 
then takes his seat in the audience, together with 
all the others except the new president.^ 

The President. — And now, as an indication of our 



THE OFFICERS HANDBOOK. 117 

desire as a united society to reach these high ideals 
of service and reward, let us all rise and sing to- 
gether one stanza of "To the Work." 

[This is done, and then the president speaks 
again.] 

The President. — Now, at the outset of this new 
term's w^ork, it is most appropriate to emphasize our 
allegiance to the fundamental principles of this so- 
ciety. Let us all remain standing and repeat in con- 
cert the Christian Endeavor pledge. 

[After this the president again speaks.] 

The President. — Let us all bow our heads and in 
silence for a few moments ask our unseen Leader 
for His blessing upon the work Ave are about to 
undertake together. Following the silent prayer I 
will lead in a series of sentence prayers, in which 
many will voice our petitions for all our society ac- 
tivities ; and then our pastor will close this service 
with a praj^er of consecration. 

[The regular prayer meeting follow^s, the leader 
for the evening taking his place at the desk.] 

Reception Services. 

The practical experience of a multitude of societies 
has proved the value of a little ceremony in receiv- 
ing new members. Membership in the society 
means much more to members thus received, and 
they are more faithful to the pledge. There is only 
one danger — that the service may seem to imitate 
the service used in joining the church. For that 
reason I would carefully avoid all phrases custom- 
arily found in church reception services, the use of 



118 THE OFFICERS^ HANDBOOK. 

the song, '• Blest be the tie that binds," " the right 
hand of fellowship," and, in fact, everything that 
might be considered even an indirect allusion to 
that most solemn service. Cai'e is taken in the fol- 
lowing suggested forms to avoid this possible objec- 
tion, and these exercises, while earnest and impress- 
ive, will not.be thought by any one to be trenching 
on the field of the church, or rendering common- 
place one of its most sacred ceremonies. 

This reception of new members should come at 
regular intervals, and it is better that it should 
always fall on consecration meetings. The president 
will be in the chair, and he will ask the secretary to 
call the names of the new members. If they were 
elected at the last meeting, they will come forward 
as their names are called ; but if their names were 
proposed at the last meeting, the president will put 
their election to vote, and after election they will 
come forward. Then will follow this little cere- 
mony. 

The Reception of Active Members. 

The President (addressing the new members, as 
they stand before him). — You have signified your de- 
sire to join this society. Having read our constitu- 
tion and the Christian Endeavor pledge, you have 
said to the lookout committee that you wish to work 
in accordance with the constitution, and that you 
will keep the requirements of the pledge. With this 
understanding, the society has gladly by its vote ac- 
cepted you among its members. In ratification of 
all this, let all the Endeavorers rise and repeat with 



THE officers' HAKDBOOK. 119 

these new members our Christian Endeavor cov- 
enant. 

[The society rises, and joins the new members in 
repeating the pledge, the president leading.] 

The President. — While we remain standing, let us 
testify our joy at receiving these new members, and 
our sense of our fellowship in Christian Endeavor, 
by singing one stanza of a welcome song, "Stand 
up, stand up for Jesus." While we are singing, the 
secretary will present the constitution, and each 
candidate will sign it in the presence of the society. 

[Choose some other welcome song, if your hymn- 
book contains a preferable one. The secretary 
should be ready with the constitution and pen and 
ink, at a table in front of the society. This public 
signing of the constitution, including, of course, the 
pledge, always serves to impress upon the new 
members the vows they are taking. Sing as many 
stanzas as are necessary to occupy the time of sign- 
ing.] 

The President. — It is the custom of our society to 
give to each new member a Christian Endeavor pin, 
in the hope that it will serve as an earnest of our 
brotherly affection, and as a constant reminder of 
the covenant you have just repeated with us. We 
ask that you show your Christian Endeavor colors 
faithfully, and we pray that this little emblem may 
come to mean as much in your lives as it means in 
ours. 

[Of course, if this gift of a pin is not customary in 
your society, the foregoing will be omitted. It is a 
delightful and most helpful practice, however, and I 
earnestly recommend it.] 



120 THE OFFICERS^ HANDBOOK. 

The President, after presenting the pins, goes on to 
say : It is also the custom of this society to present 
to each new member a copy of this book, "The 
Christian Endeavor Greeting." In it you will find a 
statement of the purposes of our society and a sum- 
mary of its methods. It will tell you how to be 
helpful to us, and liow to gain help from the society. 
AVe ask you to read it carefully, and to adopt it as 
your Christian Endeavor guide-book. 

[This " Christian Endeavor Greeting " is published 
in most attractive form by the United Society of 
Christian Endeavor. It is in large, handsome type, 
and may be obtained, bound prettily in paper, for 
ten cents, or a dollar a dozen. There is also a special 
gift edition, bound daintily, in white cloth, with a 
handsome stamp and with gilt top ; this costs twen- 
ty-five cents, or five for one dollar. This presenta- 
tion edition is the one the society should use if it can 
afford it, and twenty or twenty -five cents is very 
little to spend upon each new member. Send for a 
sample of the book, and you will see how practically 
useful it is. Of course, the foregoing is to be omit- 
ted if the society does not put the " Greeting" into 
the hands of its new members.] 

The President. — You are now Christian Endeavor- 
ers, and we welcome you into our goodly fellowship. 
It is a fellowship as wide as the earth. It includes 
young people of all races and- climes and nations, 
from the Zulus to the Esquimaux, from China to 
Brazil, from England, France, and Germany to 
Hawaii, New Zealand, and Japan. 

This precious fellowship includes also the young 



THE OFFICERS^ HAXDBOOK. 121 

people of all evangelical denominations. " We are 
not divided, all one body we." The Christian 
Endeavor unions, of which you have become a part, 
will cause you to realize as you may never have 
realized before the grandeur of Christ's great church 
universal. 

It is a fellowship of service that you have entered, 
a fellowship in Christian endeavor. We trust that 
you will do your part, and more than your part, in 
all our society work. To emphasize this principle 
of service, it is our custom to assign to each new 
member, as soon as he joins, a place on some com- 
mittee, and your committee assignments are as fol- 
lows ; . . . . 

[Of course if your society does not place every 
member upon some committee, the foregoing sen- 
tences w:ill be omitted ; but if you try the plan, you 
will not give it up.] 

Finally, Endeavorers, we welcome you into a fel- 
lowship of faith. The first sentence of our pledge is 
the great "one. It is because we trust in tlie Lord 
Jesus for strength, that we are trying to do whatever 
He would like to have us do. Only as we have fel- 
lowship with Him in our daily prayer and Bible- 
reading, can our fellowship with one another be a 
fellowship of Christian endeavor. It is our prayer 
that you may come to know every day more and 
more fully the power of the presence of Christ. 
Please be seated, and listen to a word from our 
pastor. 

[The new members will sit in the front row of 
seats, and the pastor will welcome them and give 



122 THE OFFICERS^ HA]SrDBOOK. 

them some kindly advice in regard to their religious 
life and their Christian Endeavor duties. If your 
church has no pastor, substitute for this service 
the best person available.] 

The President. —Now, fellow Endeavorers, in 
receving tliese new members, have we no duty to 
perform, do we assume no responsibility ? In a mo- 
ment of silent prayer, let us ask God to bless their 
relation to us and ours to them, and then let a num- 
ber follow me in sentence prayers for God's blessing 
upon this society and these new members in all their 
Christian endeavors. I will ask our pastor to close 
the sentence prayers with a prayer of consecration. 

The Reception of Associate Members. 

[This should be much briefer and simpler. There 
may be the gift of the pin and of the " Greeting," 
and the appointment to some of the minor commit- 
tees, but there is no pastor's greeting unless active 
members are received at the same time. After the 
associate members have been voted in, the president 
will call them forward, and will say : — J 

The President. — We rejoice that God has put it in 
your hearts to desire fellowship with this society of 
Christian Endeavor. The associates' pledge, which 
you are ready to sign, obligates you to attend our 
meetings faithfully, and we trust that we may be 
helpful to you in every way ; but especially that 
through our meetings jon may come to know our 
Saviour, and to join His church, becoming His pro- 
fessed followers. To that end, the society will both 



THE OFFICEES' HAKDBOOK. 123 

work and pray. May God bless you as you sign our 
associate roll during the singing of the hymn. 

The Reception of Honorary Members. 

The honorary members ex offlciis, the pastor and 
church officers, will not be given formal reception, 
since they are all members of the society by virtue 
of their office, but it would be pleasant to signalize 
in some public way the addition of other members 
to the honorary list. They take no pledge, and the 
gift of the pin and '^ Greeting " would not be very 
appropriate, so that the form just given would not 
be suitable. I advise, however, that no form be 
used ; that the honorary members be not called be- 
fore the society at all, but merely that, they being 
present, their accession shall be announced, while 
the pastor gives them, on behalf of the young people, 
a word of greeting, and tells them what are their 
privileges and duties in connection with the society. 

The Reception of Juniors. 

When you are receiving graduates from the Junior 
society into active or associate membership, you may 
use the forms just given without change, but it is 
far better to make some special recognition of the 
Juniors, for the sake of those left in the Junior so- 
ciety whom you wish to teach to look forward to 
entrance into the ranks of the older Endeavorers. 
Invite the entire Junior society to be present. Once 
a year the uniform topics give us a union meeting of 
the two societies, and this is the best time for the 



124 THE officers' HAKDBOOK. 

transfer of members. The portions of the reception 
service that are different from that just given are 
the following. 

The president of the Yomig People's society sits on 
the platform with the president of the Junior 
society. 

The President— (to the Junior president).— I 
am glad to welcome you as the representative of our 
comrade branch of Christian Endeavor, our younger 
brother, the Junior society, and I am especially glad 
as you bring to us the gift of new members. Please 
piesent them to the society. 

[Here the Junior president reads the list of candi- 
dates, w^ho step forward as their names are called. 
If they have not already been voted in, the president 
puts the matter to vote at this juncture. If other 
members are to be received at this time, call them 
forward, and proceed without further reference to 
the Juniors, but if the Juniors alone are to be 
received, the president of the Young People's society 
may go on as follows.] 

The. President. — We count ourselves especially 
fortunate in adding to our number those that have 
already received training in Christian Endeavor 
methods and principles. You have learned in the 
Junior society the value of a pledge, and you have 
proved yourselves able to keep a covenant. You have 
had a drill in committee work. You have found out 
the joy of public testimony for Christ. Doubtless 
you are sorry to part from the many pleasant associa- 
tions of the Junior society, but w^e trust that all such 
losses will be more than made good by your joy in 



THE officers' HANDBOOK. 125 

enlarged activities and higher and harder service. 
To this we v^^elcomeyou. Christian Endeavor's vi^ord 
is, " Forward ! " Having taken this step, we trust 
that you wiU go on to take many more steps in ad- 
vance, till you reach the blessed goal of all Christian 
Endeavor. You have advanced from a simple pledge 
to one that is more inclusive, and I ask you, in token 
that your spirits are joined with ours in seeking the 
great aims of our covenant, to unite your vows with 
ours as all rise and repeat together the Christian En- 
deavor pledge. 

[From this point the service is the same as that 
already given, except that " Onward, Christian Sol- 
diers " would perhaps be a better song to sing while 
the Juniors are signing the membership roll.] 



126 THE officers' handbook. 



CHAPTER XVII. 



THE USE OF LITERATURE. 



The success of a Christian Endeavor society de- 
pends so largely upon its wise use of Christian En- 
deavor literature, and the use of tliis literature 
depends so much on the officers' activity in this di- 
rection, that a chapter on the subject is necessary in 
an officers' handbook. Too many societies, instead 
of standing as they might stand on the shoulders of 
all the other societies that have done good work, 
profiting by their experience, adopting the best of 
their methods, and incorporating the enthusiasm of 
their successes, choose weakly to live to themselves, 
cackling over their petty discoveries that became 
ancient news in wide-awake societies ten years ago, 
and plodding along with antique methods that have 
been superseded by far better ways of working. 

One of the chief advantages of our interdenomina- 
tional Christian Endeavor fellowship is that it pro- 
vides a means for gathering up in one center of 
information the best that is planned and achieved in 
young people's religious work all over the world. 
This center is the United Society of Christian En- 
deavor, and the society that makes no use, or slight 
use, of its literature, receives only a small part of 
the gains to be derived from membership in our move- 



THE OFFICERS HANDBOOK. 127 

ment. This Hterature has now become remarkably 
complete, inspiring, and practically useful. It in- 
cludes books and pamphlets on all kinds of com- 
mittee work, and all the various lines of activity 
taken up in our societies and their unions. It in- 
cludes whole libraries, or single volumes. It in- 
cludes large books, or mere leaflets. It includes 
treatises for the advanced worker, and primers for 
the beginner. It includes an international organ 
for the older societies, The Christian Endeavor 
World, and one for the Junior societies. The Junior 
Christian Endeavor World. It includes song-books 
and exercises, and charts and cards of all kinds, and 
blank books and topic cards, and devotional helps 
and missionary libraries, and stories and poems, and 
Christian Endeavor histories and Christian Endeavor 
travels, and Christian Endeavor year books. When 
the Christian Endeavor movement began, in 1881, 
there was no literature dealing with religious work 
among the young. Now, thanks to the labors of the 
United Society of Cliristian Endeavor — labors, as 
all should know, that are entirely self-supporting — 
this literature is one of the most complete in the 
world. Whatever the need, the publication depart- 
ment of the United Society is prepared at the invi- 
tation of a postal-card to suppl}^ it promptly. 

It would be a pleasure to give here a list, for each 
committee, of the books, pamphlets, exercises, and 
other helps especially prepared for its particular line 
of work, but such a list would be inadequate almost 
before this book was off the press, so rapidly are 
improvements made, and so many are the additions 



128 THE officers' haxdbook, 

to the growing catalogue. The only practical thing 
to do is to urge every reader of this book to ask the 
United Society (Tremont Temple, Boston) to send 
the most recent price-list, which, of course, will be 
sent free. You will be astonished at the number, 
variety, and cheapness of the helps there enumer- 
ated. 

It would also be a pleasure, of course, to give here 
an accouiit of Tlie Christian Endeavor World, but 
this, too, is improving all the time, and the helpful 
and attractive features I might name to-day will be 
*' back numbers " to-morrow as truly as this week's 
issue will be a " back number " next week. The 
only way to get an idea of what our international 
Christian Endeavor organ is, is to send a postal-card 
request for free sample copies, — its address also being 
Tremont Temple, Boston. 

" Oh, it will cost too mtich," I hear some societies 
say. In the first place, investigate, and you will 
find that these books and pamplilets are sold at a 
cost remarkably low. Only the slightest profit is 
made upon each copy. And even when compared 
with the published novels that are sold by the 
hundred thousand copies, these Christian Endeavor 
publications will be seen to be wonderfully inex- 
pensive. 

One of the best ways to get the literature of the 
United Society is by ordering a complete supply of 
w^hatever your committees need in the way of com- 
mittee helps. The United Society is able to sell these 
sets of books and pamphlets at much less even than 
the ordinary low prices for single copies. An enter- 



THE officers' HANDBOOK. 129 

tainment may be got up for the purpose of raising 
the necessary money, or it may be obtained by 
private subscription (do not forget the honorary 
members !), or each committee may be asked to buy 
its own helps for its own use and for handing down 
to succeeding committees, or the society may ap- 
propriate from its treasury the necessary sum. You 
should have a good-literature committee, and it 
should be one of their main objects to get our 
Christian Endeavor literature into the hands of all 
the Endeavorers. 

Then, how to get it read and used ! For not 
merely the officers should read it, but all the chair- 
men ; and not only the chairmeUp but their commit- 
tee members and all the society. The literature it- 
self will answer this question." One of the best plans 
is to hold, after the books and pamphlets have ar- 
rived, a literature night, taking the place possibly 
of some social. On this occasion every member will 
speak briefly on some good plan he has seen de^ 
scribed in some of the new books and pamphlets, 
and there will be a discussion upon each to see 
whether it is adapted to your society. One of the best 
ways to use The Christian Endeavor World — espe- 
cially the copy or copies taken by the society for its 
prayer-meeting leaders and other workers — is to ap- 
point a scrapbook committee, which will take the 
papers after the prayer-meeting leader is through 
with them, and cut them up, sorting out the articles 
into piles for the various committees according to 
their themes. These clippings will be given to the 
committees and pasted in committee scrapbooks, or 
9 



130 THE officers' hakdbook. 

filed in envelopes for immediate use or future 
reference. 

No society ever made such use of Christian En- 
deavor literature as I have here advised, without 
finding its work greatly stimulated in all depart- 
ments, its meetings more lively and attractive and 
spiritual, its gifts increased, and more souls won for 
the Master. 



THE officers' HA]S"DB00K, 131 



CHAPTER XYIII. 

THE SOCIETY AND THE CHURCH. 

It is absurd to think that there should be any 
jealousy of the Christian Endeavor society on the 
part of the church, or any suspicion of the church 
on the part of the society. The society is the 
church — it is the church in one of its most impor- 
tant functions, the church training its young. Dis- 
cord between the two is as if the eye and the hand 
should quarrel, and it is not to be thought of for a 
moment. Where there is any trouble of the kind, 
it is because the fundamental ideas of the Christian 
Endeavor Society have been lost from sight, and it is 
the duty of the church, as the older body of Chris- 
tians, to hold its young people true to those ideals. 

I am writing now, however, for Christian En- 
deavor officers, and the question is. What should 
you be doing to keep the society close to the church 
and loyal to its interests, and at the same time pre- 
serve and increase the interest of the older Chris- 
tians in the society ? 

The pastor is, of course, the chief factor in the sit- 
uation. Invite him to become an active member. 
If he thinks best not to do this, give him all the 
rights of an honorary member. Note also how 
many times and on what various occasions he is to 



132 THE officers' hakdbook. 

be consulted, in accordance with the constitution. 
Make him know that he is really wanted at the ex- 
ecutive committee meetings. Assure him, that he 
will be an honored and w^elcome visitor at any 
meeting of any committee. Go to him and ask him 
to give the society some work to do to help him and 
the church. Often invite the pastor to lead the 
Christian Endeavor prayer meeting. Especially, 
adopt the delightful and profitable custom of reserv- 
ing for the pastor the last five minutes of each 
prayer meeting in which to sum up the teachings of 
the evening. He may not be able to be present at 
every meeting, but let him understand that this 
time is his whenever he is present, and then strictly 
instruct your leaders to call upon him five minutes 
before the close of the hour. 

Then, there are the church services. The fact 
that each Endeavorer has taken a vow to be present 
at these, unless he has a reason Christ would accept, 
makes it no more a duty for the Endeavorers to at- 
tend these meetings than for their elders, since 
there is nothing in our pledge which is not implied 
or expressed in the church covenant, and I believe 
that the Endeavorers are actually far more faithful 
in these directions than the average church-mem- 
ber. But they are younger, and it may be held that 
they should be more regular attendants. At any 
rate. Christian Endeavor has no business to compare 
itself wath anything but the absolute standard of 
perfection, nor to rest satisfied until every member 
attends the Sunday evening service and the mid- 
week prayer meeting as a matter of course. 



THE OFFICERS^ HANDBOOK. 133 

Advertise these meetings. Let the society officers 
often remind the members of their vows in this direc- 
tion. Keep careful records of attendance, and make 
comj)arative reports from time to time. Divide the 
society into groups, and appoint now one group and 
now another to speak briefly and modestly in the 
church prayer meeting. Offer the services of the 
Endeavorers as ushers at the Sunday evening serv- 
ice. Ask the pastor if he would not like a Christian 
Endeavor choir for Sunday evening and for the 
church prayer meeting. If the holding of the Chris- 
tian Endeavor meeting just before the Sunday eve- 
ning service, as so many societies do, seems to any 
to draw the young people away from the latter 
meeting (I do not think it ever really does) make 
a test of the matter by boldly transferring the En- 
deavor meeting to a week night — wliicli, in my 
judgment, is a far better time for it, any way. 
Take a holy pride in proving yourself true to your 
promise to ' ' support your own church in every 
way." 

The honorary membership affords a fine opportu- 
nity for cementing the relation between the society 
and the church, and it should be used more often 
and more fully than it is. Extend the list beyond 
the persons who are honorary members ex-officiis. 
Do not appoint men and ^'omen to honorary mem- 
bership in order to interest them in the society, but 
interest them first and then appoint them. Culti- 
vate the attendance of the older people at the meet- 
ing, especially of those wise Cliristians who know 
how to be brief, and even to keep silent. Go to 



134 THE officers' handbook, 

them, when they come, and tell them you are glad 
to see them. At least once a year hold an honorary 
members' meeting, led by an honorary member, 
with all tlie honorary members present and taking 
part. Be sure to give tlie honorary members special 
invitations to the socials. Once a year hold a social 
especially for the old folks of the church. Go to 
your honorary members for advice, for money, for 
little speeches now and then, and in every way 
strive to make them feel that they are identified 
with the society's activities. 

The church's authority is absolute, and I think I 
have never heard of a Christian Endeavor society 
questioning it. Indeed, my chief quarrel with the 
situation is that the church too seldom exercises 
any authority, or seems to feel any responsibility 
for the Christian Endeavor society. Church mem- 
bers occasionally indulge in criticism of the society 
— though usually the criticism is kindly ; but it is 
not often that the church as an organism sets itself 
to give aid, oversight, and inspiration to this organ-- 
ized body of its young people. I believe that the 
Endeavor society should be represented in some 
way upon the official boards of the church, and that 
it should report regularly at the churcli meetings. 
I believe that as thorough watch should be kept 
over its interests as over those of the Sunday school, 
and that if the Endeavor society grows weak and 
inefficient, the church should know it as soon, and 
take measures to restore it as vigorously as it 
would if the Sunday morning congregation should 
fall off. Certainly it should not be so one-sided as 



THE officers' HANDBOOK. 135 

that the Endeavorers should be expected to give ab- 
solute loyalty to the church while the church gives 
less than absolute loyalty to the best interests of the 
Endeavorers. 

One of the finest tilings a society can do is to estab- 
lish and carry on indefinitely some regular course 
of study in denominational history, missions, or 
doctrines. Tlie pastor, or some experienced member 
of the church, should lead this class, and it might 
be held in connection with the society meeting, or 
on some other evening, according to circumstances. 
At any rate, such studies will do more than anything 
else to bind the society firmly to the church. 

Thus it must be the firm purpose of every Christian 
Endeavor ofiicer to permit no shadow of antagonism 
to arise between the society and the church. If any 
misapprehension comes up, see at once that it is 
removed. In all the ways I have suggested, and as 
many more as you can invent, draw the older 
Christians into sympathy with your work, and as 
far as possible into active co-operation. 

A word is needed here for the benefit of the 
numerous societies that are not connected with any 
church, the "union societies" found in sparsely 
settled districts, meeting in country schoolhouses, 
and chiefly on the frontier. There is no church at 
hand, or if there are several churches, the member- 
ship is too small to warrant any but a union Christian 
Endeavor society. How much of this talk about 
loyalty to their church applies to such societies ? 

With a few obvious changes, every word I have 
said may be applied to those societies whose members 



136 THE officers' hakdbook. 

belong to different denominations. The fact that 
they, meet together in the Christian Endeavor pra} er 
meeting should give them all the more zeal for their 
church work. If a missionary offering is received, 
divide it proportionately among the denominations 
represented, or let each Endeavorer give solely 
through his own church, or let the union society give 
to such interdenominational societies as the Amer- 
ican Bible Society, the American Sunday-school 
Union, the China Inland Mission. Each En- 
deavorer's pledge has reference, of course, to the 
services in his own church, and not to the services 
in the church where the society happens to meet. 



THE officers'. HANDBOOK. 137 



CHAPTER XIX. 

A GLANCE AT CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR HISTORY. 

Every Endeavorer, but especially every Christian 
Endeavor officer, should know something about 
the history of the Christian Endeavor movement, 
partly because those that are ignorant regarding it 
will naturally come to them for information, and 
will gain an unfavorable opinion of the society from 
their failure to answer their questions, and partly 
because no one can undef stand the movement with- 
out knowing the principal events in its history, and 
partly because the story is an inspiring one, and a 
knowledge of it is an inspiration to better work. In 
this chapter I can give the barest outline, and for 
full details I must refer the reader to Dr. Clark's 
large volume, " World-Wide Endeavor," and to my 
little five-cent pamphlet, " A Short History of the 
Christian Endeavor Movement " (both sold by the 
United Society of Christian Endeavor). 

The first society was established on the evening of 
February 2, 1881, in the Williston Church, Portland, 
Me., by Rev. Francis E. Clark, D.D., the original 
pledge and constitution being substantially the same 
as at present. In August of that year, the first 
article concerning the new society was published by 
The Congregationalist, and soon the second article 
was published by The Sunday School Times, both 



138 THE OFFICERS^ HAiq-DBOOK. 

from Dr. Clark's pen. In October, 1881, the second 
society was formed by Rey. C. P. Mills, at Newbury- 
port, Mass. 

By June 2, 1882, six societies were known, and on 
that date the first Christian Endeavor convention 
was held, in Williston Church, Portland. Other 
places where these early annual conventions were 
held are : Lowell, Mass., Old Orchard, Me., Saratoga, 
N. Y., Chicago, Philadelphia, St. Louis, Minneapolis. 
The Philadelphia Convention, in 1889, brought to- 
gether 6,500 delegates, the St. Louis Convention 
8,000, and the Minneapolis Convention (1891) more 
than 14,000, marking the beginning of the vast pro- 
portions of the movement. 

During this first decade, Dr. Clark wrote the first 
Christian Endeavor book " Children and tlie Church." 
The movement had spread to the younger children, 
and the first Junior society had been formed. The 
United Society of Christian Endeavor had been 
formed (1885). The movement had reached foreign 
countries (China, 1885). The first local union 
had been organized, that of New Haven, Conn., 
(1886), and the first State union (also in Connec- 
ticut, 1885). The Christian Endeavor organ, The 
Golden Rule, now called Tlie Christian Endeavor 
World, sent out its first number in October, 1886. 
Dr. Clark became its editor and the president of the 
United Society, and made in England the first of his 
remarkable Christian Endeavor journeys in foreign 
lands (1888). Christian Endeavor Day began to be 
celebrated (1888), General Secretary Baer was ap- 
pointed to office (1889), and the revised pledge was 



THE OFFICERS^ HANDBOOK. 139 

adopted in the same year, while in 1890 Doctors 
Clark, Boynton, Hill, and Dickinson — foremost 
among Christian Endeavor pioneers — made a second 
Christian Endeavor tour of Great Britain. All this 
in the first decade. 

The close of the first decade of Christian En- 
deavor was marked by the rise of the exclusive 
denominational young people's society, which 
threatened for a time to destroy our interdenomi- 
national fellowship, and break up the Christian En- 
deavor movement into scores of relatively weak 
and inefficient societies. Better counsels prevailed, 
however, and nearly all the denominational societies 
now receive into their full membership, without 
change of name or constitution, the Christian En- 
deavor societies of the same denomination. 

The second decade of Christian Endeavor has 
been signalized by a growth even more wonderfvil 
than tlie first decade. Tlie international conven-' 
tions have surpassed all previous religious gatherings 
in the world's history, in their vast proportions, 
their unbounded enthusiasm, and their deep spiritual 
results. New York (1892) brought together at least 
35,000 delegates ; Boston (1895) the immense number 
of 56,435 registered Endeavorers. The Montreal 
Convention of 1893 was the first held outside the 
United States ; the San Francisco Convention of 
1897 was the first held on the Pacific coast, and fully 
ten thousand Endeavorers traversed the entire 
breadth of the country to attend it ; the Nashville 
Convention of 1898 was the first held in the South. 

The second decade has seen a marvelous growth 



140 THE OPPICERS^ HANDBOOK. 

of the movement in foreign lands. Much of this 
progress has been due to journeys undertaken by 
Dr. Clark, usually accompanied by Mrs. Clark, who 
has been especially successful in spreading the 
principles of the Junior society. In the course of 
these journeys Dr. Clark has circumnavigated the ' 
globe more than once, and has frequently visited all \ 
the leading nations of Europe, Asia, and Africa, not 
omitting Australia and the islands of the Pacific. 
Hundreds, and in some cases thousands, of societies 
are found in all these lands. United Societies of 
Christian Endeavor have been organized in Japan, * 
China, Australia, India, South Africa, Germany,*' 
and Great Britain. These hold large and enthusi- 
astic conventions, publish Christian Endeavor pa- 
pers and other literature in all the important lan- 
guages of the globe, and carry on all the Christian 
Endeavor activities as successfully in each case as 
if the society had been originally planned for that 
soil alone. 

The first society formed outside of America was 
formed in the Hawaiian Islands, in 1884. China's 
beginning was in 1885. It was not until 1887 that 
the first society was formed in England, at Crewe. 
It was at Crewe also that the first British conven- 
tion was held, in 1891. The first international con- 
vention outside the American continent was that 
held in London in 1900. 

Of course, the growth of our Society in these 
various foreign lands has been attended by many 
interesting and remarkable events, and a fuller 
knowledge of these than can be given in my limited 



I 



THE officers' HANDBOOK. 141 

space would inspire any Endeavorer. I might in- 
stance the secret upspringing of the Madagascar 
societies, the persecutions suffered by the Armenian 
societies from the Turks and by the Spanish so- 
cieties from the Catholics, the missionary record of 
the Samoan Endeavorers. 

During this second decade, too, the society entered 
the navies of the world as well as the armies, and 
stirring tales are to be told of Christian Endeavor 
on battleships and in camps. Especially in the war 
between the United States and Spain were the 
Floating societies and the societies in the army 
brought into prominence. Eecent years have also 
seen a blessed development of Christian Endeavor 
work in the State prisons and the jails. Mothers' 
societies have sprung up, Senior societies among the 
older Christians, and, to a notable degree. Inter- 
mediate societies, midway between the Junior and 
the Young People's societies. Work among life- 
savers and surfmen, among street-car men and com- 
mercial travelers, has also been organized. 

The societies have taken up during recent years a 
number of important lines of work for the special 
service of the church. Most conspicuous of these 
are the movement for systematic and generous giv- 
ing, known as the Tenth Legion ; the movement for 
the deepening of the spiritual life, known as the 
Quiet Hour movement, and the Macedonian Pha- 
lanx, to stimulate interest in missions by gifts 
through denominational boards to definitely known 
missionaries with whom the Endeavorers are brought 
into personal touch. A stronger Christian citizen- 



I 



142 THE OFFICERS' HANDBOOK. 

ship, the promotion of temperance, and interna- 
tional arbitration, are also among the aims of Chris- 
tian Endeavor. During this second decade, the 
State unions organized in the first decade have gone 
on to great proportions and influence. Several of 
the States hold annual gatherings whose attendants 
number from eight to ten thousand. ■ 

This sketch of our Christian Endeavor history, a 
mere outline as it is, will serve its purpose if it sends 
the reader to fuller sources of information. Chris- 
tian Endeavor has already made a marvelous rec- 
ord. Every year it is writing a noble chapter in its 
history. As the second decade has in every point 
surpassed the first, so we may confidently expect the ■ 
third decade to surpass the second. Whether this 
shall be the case or not, will depend largely upon 
the readers of this book, the ofiicers of the local 
Christian Endeavor societies. For all these gains A 
have been won for Christ and the church not by an ■ 
influential organization, not by force of authority, 
not by the outpouring of money, not by the prestige 
of genius. These noble deeds liav$ been wrought, 
and thus mightily have the young people of the 
w^orld been moved for Christian Endeavor, through 
the faithful activities of many thousands unknown 
to fame. Because this Christian Endeavor presi- 
dent and that Christian Endeavor secretary, this 
prayer-meeting leader and that member of the look- 
out committee and yonder stammering beginner in 
the Christian life have dared to take definite pledges 
and have courageously lived up to them, because 
they have done their best, each in his little corner, 



n 



THE OFFICERS^ HANDBOOK. 143 

because of that, this great thin^ which is not in a 
corner, and which nothing smaller than the world 
can contain, Christian Endeavor, has grown to its 
blessed power. O Christian Endeavorers, it pays to 
be brave, though no one knows it but Christ. It 
pays to try hard things, to be willing to fail, to 
spend time and money and thought and energy 
upon even the least of Christian enterprises. For 
the Father, who sees in secret, will reward you 
openly. 



OCT 4 1900 



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